Commis Chef Apprentice
The Why Not Inn · Location to be confirmed
Commis chef (level 2)
Join our passionate team as an Apprentice Commis Chef at The Why Not Inn! You will gain hands-on culinary experience, master foundational cooking techniques, and work toward a Level 2 qualification with real opportunities to progress to CDP and beyond.
The work
- Prepare raw ingredients: wash, peel, chop, and portion fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, poultry, and fish according to specification.
- Support service delivery: assist the kitchen team during live lunch, dinner, and event services by gathering and organising ingredients.
- Learn and apply professional cooking techniques, including searing, grilling, frying, baking, roasting, poaching, and sauce making.
- Measure, weigh, and portion ingredients accurately to follow recipes precisely and minimise waste.
- Support senior chefs in assembling, finishing, and garnishing dishes to presentation standards.
- Assist in receiving food orders, checking quantities, logging temperatures, and rotating stock (FIFO).
- Maintain high standards of hygiene and clean, sanitise, and maintain kitchen equipment and workstations.
- Strictly monitor food holding/storage temperatures and follow safety protocols for allergen management, HACCP, and COSHH guidelines.
Training
Training will take place on-site at The Why Not Inn. The training schedule and study hours will be agreed upon between the apprentice, employer, and HIT Training prior to the start date.
You will complete the Level 2 Commis Chef standard delivered in partnership with HIT Training. Practical kitchen experience will be combined with ongoing mentoring from senior chefs and regular assessments from HIT Training to ensure all portfolio and practical requirements are met.
Training provider: THE OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER LTD
What you come out with
Upon successful completion of the Level 2 Commis Chef apprenticeship, the apprentice can progress into a full-time position as a Chef de Partie (CDP), with further opportunities to advance within the kitchen team.
What they are looking for
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Team working
- Initiative
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Things to consider
- Transport: Must be able to travel to and from the venue in Astwood Bank (B96 6LU), including for evening and weekend shifts when public transport options may be limited.
- Working environment: Must be comfortable working in a hot, fast-paced kitchen environment and standing for long periods.
Pay extras and benefits
- Staff food on shifts of 8 hours or longer
- Company pension
- Free staff parking
£16,640 a year
The employer
The Why Not Inn is a beautifully restored, independent community pub located at 55 The Ridgeway in the scenic village of Astwood Bank, Redditch. Combining original stone flooring and a double-sided open fireplace with stunning views of the Worcestershire countryside, we offer a vibrant environment for apprentices to launch their culinary careers.
Our kitchen provides a fantastic foundation in high-quality catering. You will learn your trade in a scratch-cooking environment where everything is fresh, local, and prepared entirely in-house. As an independent business, we encourage apprentices to find their culinary voice by actively collaborating on seasonal menu ideas and daily specials.
We also host spectacular private parties and weddings in our beautiful marquee, giving you invaluable experience in large-scale event catering. This apprenticeship offers a diverse culinary skill set, teaching you exactly how a community-focused hospitality business operates successfully.