Catering Assistant Jobs in Portsmouth PO1 – Immediate Start & Flexible Shifts

A Catering Assistant in Portsmouth provides essential support across all areas of a food service operation. Daily tasks are incredibly varied and can include: preparing ingredients for chefs, maintaining cleanliness in kitchens and servery areas, serving customers in staff canteens or student unions, handling cashless payments, setting up and clearing down for events, and receiving stock deliveries. The role is the backbone of any catering team, ensuring smooth service in settings from corporate offices in Gunwharf Quays to large-scale events. It's an excellent entry point into the hospitality industry with clear progression paths to roles like Commis Chef or Event Catering Staff supervisor.

While previous experience in a kitchen, cafe, or food production environment is advantageous, it is not always essential for entry-level positions. We value a strong work ethic, reliability, and a positive attitude above all. A willingness to learn and follow instructions is key. A valid Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene certificate is highly desirable and often required by our clients, but we can often advise on obtaining this quickly if you don't have one. For roles requiring specific skills or supervisory potential, relevant experience will be necessary and reflected in the pay rate.

Shift patterns are varied and depend entirely on the client's needs, offering great flexibility. Common patterns include: Early shifts (6 am - 2 pm) for breakfast and lunch service in corporate settings; Late shifts (2 pm - 10 pm) for dinner service in educational or healthcare settings; Split shifts for event coverage; and Weekend work for weddings, functions, and tourist venues. Many of our roles are part-time, full-time, or ad-hoc to suit your availability. We discuss your preferences during registration to match you with suitable work. For urgent needs, we also list short-term catering jobs that may have different patterns.

Absolutely. A significant portion of our temporary placements are temp-to-perm. Employers use temporary assignments as an extended working interview. If you demonstrate a great attitude, reliability, and skill, they will often offer a permanent contract. This is a proven pathway for many of our Catering Assistants to secure stable, long-term roles with excellent local employers. We actively encourage and facilitate this transition. To understand this model better, read our resource on how temporary work leads to permanent careers.

For candidates with all their documentation in order (right to work, references if needed), the process can be remarkably fast. It is possible to apply, register, and start your first shift within 48-72 hours, especially for roles with an immediate start requirement. The speed depends on your responsiveness and the specific client's onboarding procedures. We pride ourselves on our efficient model, which is why businesses across Portsmouth and the UK, from Wolverhampton to London, use our temporary staffing agency services to fill urgent gaps.