Job Description

Foxes Academy

Somerset
28,849.60 - 32,302.40 per year

Job type:

Full Time, Permanent

Start date:

01 September 2025

Apply by:

29 August 2025

Job overview

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Overview and Responsibilities

Catering & Events Chef - Aurora Foxes

Location: Minehead, Somerset


Salary: 28,849.60 - 32,302.40 Depending on experience and qualifications


Hours: 40 hours per week, 52 weeks

Welcome to Aurora Foxes, a specialist college and training hotel for young people with learning disabilities, situated in the friendly seaside town of Minehead. Foxes is a very special place.

This is a bespoke role to manage the Flying Fox, our mobile food truck to broaden the experiences for our students by attending events and festivals. .unique opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of our young people in an operational hotel environment that supports our students to learn the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to successfully shape their own future. Our aim is to equip our young adults with the life and hospitality skills to become work ready, life ready.

The main purpose of the role:

To lead the daily operations of The Flying Fox catering van, delivering high-quality food and customer service at a variety of internal and external events. This role combines hands-on mobile catering with a strong focus on supporting students to gain real-world experience in food preparation, service, and enterprise. The Van Operative plays a vital role in extending Aurora Foxes' vocational learning into the community, promoting inclusion, employability, and professional standards in a dynamic, mobile setting.


Your role is to help achieve our mission which is to equip young adults with learning disabilities to find sustainable employment in the hospitality sector and to live independently.


You will always promote a professional attitude and approach with students and support staff, to enable students to develop the skills required to be 'work ready, life ready.

Key responsibilities:

Catering and Operational Delivery

Manage the day-to-day running of the catering van, ensuring high standards of food hygiene, preparation, service, and presentation.


Prepare, cook, and serve a consistent and appealing menu that aligns with event needs and customer expectations.


Maintain stock control, ordering, and waste management in line with budget and sustainability targets.


Ensure compliance with all food safety, licensing, and health & safety legislation, including regular checks and documentation.


Handle payments and cashing-up procedures accurately and securely.


Operate the vehicle safely, ensuring it is clean, roadworthy, and ready for each scheduled event.

Student Learning and Mentorship

Provide structured opportunities for students to participate in catering van operations, with clear guidance and positive reinforcement.


Model excellent customer service, time management, and kitchen practices to support student learning outcomes.


Work with education and support staff to align van activities with curriculum goals and student progression.


Offer regular feedback on student performance and contribute to progress tracking as needed.

Community Engagement and Promotion

Represent Aurora Foxes professionally at external events, creating positive interactions with the public and showcasing student potential.


Support the setup and breakdown of van activities at events such as markets, festivals, school functions, and pop-ups.


Contribute to the promotion and development of The Flying Fox as an enterprise, building relationships with local businesses and community groups.

Administrative and Compliance

Maintain accurate records of van activities, including sales, incidents, student participation, and vehicle maintenance.


Support data collection for reporting and evaluating the impact and financial performance of the initiative.


Attend meetings, training, and planning sessions related to operational delivery and student outcomes.

Skills and Qualifications

Successful candidate qualities:

Experience in catering, hospitality, or mobile food operations


Valid UK driving licence (and ideally a clean driving record with ability to drive a 3.5 tonne vehicle)


Strong understanding of food safety, health and hygiene practices


Experience working with or supporting young people or individuals with SEND (desirable)


Excellent organisational and communication skills


Flexible, practical, and customer-focused approach


Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 minimum) or willingness to obtain


Level 2 in English and Maths (or willingness to work towards)

Benefits and Additional Information

What's on offer?

Continued training and support


Opportunity to gain qualifications, which will be funded by us!


10% off accommodation, hot drinks and food at Foxes Hotel


Life assurance and pension


Health cash back plan


Car lease scheme


Bike to work scheme


Perk box


Free parking

If you are interested in this role then please apply on-line and complete our application form.

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer

This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled.

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.

School prospectus
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Recruiter contact:

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Call us

About

Foxes Academy

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Foxes Academy

The Esplanade, Selbourne Place, Minehead
Somerset
TA24 5TY
United Kingdom

+44 1643 704450

Aurora Foxes Welcome to Aurora Foxes, situated in Minehead, Somerset

If we had to capture the essence of Aurora Foxes, it would be employability and independence for adulthood. We strive daily to be the very best and we will continue to do so, to ensure that graduates from Aurora Foxes are: work ready, life ready.

Mark Costello - Principal

Our College

"I think people should come to Foxes to work on their independence skills. I have been learning about shopping and budgeting. I can now travel to Taunton on the bus, which is 24 miles away to get to my work experience. My work experience is amazing, I serve customers and do the drinks. I hope to live in a supported living flat when I graduate, because I have all the skills I learnt at Foxes." --

George

"I love Foxes because it is an amazing place to be. I love all of the sessions. I like 'Moving On' because you learn to cook and to do your personal shopping. There are so many activities to choose from. The activity I like to do the most is Mindfulness, because I like to do the yoga. I really like Ballroom Dancing, my favourite is the Waltz. I like Minehead Eye because I love the singing. You should come to Foxes because you'll like all the sessions and activities that we do!" --

Rebecca

"I like working on going out independently. I like to go shopping independently and I have been on the bus to Dunster to go to the cafe with my friends. I am now travel training to get to my work experience, which is really good. You will learn to do things independently that will help you in the future." --

Zac

Accommodation

Aurora Foxes has residential accommodation throughout the safe community of Minehead. Each student has a fully furnished room, as part of a comfortable, caring and happy home.



Each house has a highly experienced Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader and Learner Support Practitioners. There is a wide range of accommodation to meet individual needs. The accommodation ranges from 5 - 16 bedrooms. The students are carefully placed in their accommodation following a robust risk assessment process.



By their final year, students can be living in a small group in one of our independent flats where they have to do as much as possible for themselves; getting themselves up, washing, dressing, travelling to work experience independently, shopping, cooking and cleaning. Just like any young person in further education!

Foxes Hotel

Foxes Hotel is a delightful Victorian seaside hotel in Minehead on the Exmoor coast and is the UK's only fully operational training hotel for young people with learning disabilities. From day one, our students have the opportunity to gain valuable practical work experience, learning all the skills needed to have a successful working life in the hospitality sector.



To learn more about our hotel, please click here.

The Flying Fox

Aurora Foxes has been in a partnership with Hilton for 8 years. The Hilton Global Foundation donated a grant to Aurora Foxes, which facilitated the purchase of The Flying Fox catering truck.



This has expanded our vocational training space, and has provided our students with the opportunity to transfer their work skills within this unique environment.

Our Community

An important and unique quality of Foxes, which is often remarked upon by visiting parents, is our location. Foxes is located right in the heart of the community. Students are therefore prepared every day for engaging in town life. This valuable experience helps to shape our students and prepare them for life after Foxes, as well as helping to reinforce independent living skills. As the second-biggest employer in Minehead, Foxes forms a signification proportion of the population of the town and is held in high regard by the community for the valuable part we play in shaping the culture of our town and community. This is especially helpful for students who may initially struggle with being out in unfamiliar spaces, as students become more familiar with being able to seek out a safe and friendly face. Over the course of their time with us, students become more confident in accessing the many facilities and events that are on offer and these experiences will form a solid foundation for life beyond their time with us.

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