General Assistant

General Assistant

Date Posted: 2026-08-09

Location: South East England, GB, KT19 8GY

Type: Any

Closing Date: 2026-10-10 16:29:01

About the Role

An independent day and boarding school for boys aged 11-18 and girls aged 16-18 located just outside Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Catering for 650 students and teachers. We offer a core feeding of breakfast, lunch, supper, snacks, sixth form café and a good amount of hospitality throughout the year. Depending on the role, we offer a term-time plus contract between 45 - 52 weeks. This is a 7-day operation, so the working pattern would be 5 out of 7 days.

Additional benefits include free on-site parking, use of gym during certain staff times, and use of the swimming pool during summer in staff-only times. We have a fantastic opportunity for you as a General Assistant at one of our locations in Henley-on-Thames. Previous experience in a fast-paced catering environment is preferred. You will enjoy working with a great team for a company passionate about food and serving wonderful customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the team with serving customers, replenishing stocks, and cleaning.


• Prepare all service areas for the day's business related to that meal service.


• Prepare, set up, serve, clear, clean, and store away any food, beverages, or equipment for special functions.


• Prepare basic food for sale/service, following good hygiene and safety practices and to the specified standard.


• Restock and replenish stocks and consumables during service, pre-empt customer needs, and ensure excellent customer service.


• Empty, remove, and recycle rubbish appropriately.


• Occasionally work evenings and/or weekends for functions and school events.


• Adhere to company food standards and control wastage.


• Follow all Food Hygiene, Health & Safety policies, and allergen control procedures.

Required Skills

• Team working abilities and listening skills.


• Ability to work independently and on own initiative.


• Impeccable personal presentation, hygiene, and behavior.


• Food hygiene certificate preferred.


• Adaptability and flexibility.


• Reliable, honest, and attentive to customer service.


• Willingness to learn new skills and assume responsibilities.


• Ability to manage moderate heavy lifting, carrying, and pushing.


• Good verbal and written English skills.


• Experience in customer service or food preparation environments is preferred.

Additional Benefits

• Discount schemes at major retailers, restaurants, gyms, etc.


• Free meals on duty


• Volunteers leave—up to one day per year


• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoptive leave


• Cycle to work scheme


• Recommend a friend bonus


• Comprehensive training and development


• Team & company social events


• Employee assistance program


• Career progression opportunities within a leading independent caterer

About Us

Thomas Franks is a founder-led, fresh food catering business focused on excellence and service delivered with individuality, passion, and style. Our clients and our people are central to our success.

Disclaimer

All applicants must demonstrate the Right to Work in the UK. An enhanced DBS, identity, and reference checks covering the last five years will be part of the selection process. As an organization using the DBS, Thomas Franks Ltd complies with the DBS Code of Practice and is committed to safeguarding children, ensuring fair treatment regardless of criminal history, with specific considerations for school roles regarding the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Diversity and Inclusion

We actively encourage applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds and foster a culture of growth and inclusion, inviting applications from under-represented groups because greater diversity results in better outcomes and a better working environment.

#s1-Gen

An independent day and boarding school for boys aged 11-18 and girls aged 16-18 located just outside Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Catering for 650 students and teachers. We offer a core feeding of breakfast, lunch, supper, snacks, sixth form café and a good amount of hospitality through the year. Depending on the role, we offer a term-time plus contract between 45 - 52 weeks. This is a 7-day operation so working pattern would be 5 out of 7. Additional benefit of this location is free on site parking, use of gym in certain staff times, use of swimming pool in certain staff-only times during summer.We have a fantastic opportunity for you as General Assistant to join one of our fantastic locations in Henley-on-Thames.You will ideally have previous experience of working within a fast-paced catering environment.You will enjoy what you do, working with a great team, for a company fanatical about food serving wonderful customers.Key responsibilities:To support the team with serving
customers, replenishing stocks, cleaning.Prepare all service areas for the days business relating to that meal service.Prepare, set-up, serve, clear, clean and store away any food, beverage or equipment required for special functions.Prepare basic food for sale/service, following good hygiene and safety practices and to the standard specified.Restock and replenish stocks and consumables as required during service periods, pre-empt customer needs and achieve optimum customer service delivery.Empty, remove and store rubbish / recycle rubbish in the correct place.Be prepared to occasionally work evening and/or weekend for functions and school events.Ensuring company food standards are adhered to and wastage controlled.Ensuring all Food Hygiene and Health & Safety policies and allergen control procedures are followed.You will have the following skills:Team working abilities, Listening skills, the ability to work on own initiative, impeccable personal presentation, hygiene and behaviour to
others, Food hygiene certificate preferred.The ability to be adaptable and be flexible as necessary. Reliable, Honest and able to demonstrate an open attentive approach to customer service.Willingness to learn new skills and take some responsibility.Ability to manage some moderately heavy lifting, carrying, and pushing.Ability to demonstrate reasonable / good understanding and use of verbal English.Ability to demonstrate reasonable / good standard of written English and reading skills.Similar experience of customer and / or food preparation environment is preferred.Wider wallet scheme (discounts at major retailers, restaurants, gyms etc).Free meals on dutyVolunteers leave - up to one day per year.Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.Cycle to work scheme.Recommend a friend bonus.Unrivalled individual training and development.Well established apprenticeship programme.Team & company social events.Employee assistance programme.Excellent career progression within

a leading independent contract caterer.About usThomas Franks is a founder led, fresh food catering business with a focus on excellence and service delivered with individuality, passion and style. We are unique in every approach and our clients, and our people are paramount to our daily success.DisclaimerAll applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have the Right to Work in the UK to be considered for this role.An enhanced DBS, Identity & reference checks (covering the last five years) will form part of the selection process. As an organisation using the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Disclosure service to assess applicants' suitability for positions of trust, Thomas Franks Ltd complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly. We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and undertake not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure based on conviction or other
information revealed. However, for any post in a school please be aware that any application is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such any criminal conviction, caution or bind-over must be declared.Diversity and Inclusion at Thomas FranksWe actively encourage applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds and continue to develop a culture of growth and inclusion and would like to invite applications from groups who are currently under-represented, because we believe greater diversity leads to exceptional results and provides a better working life. #J-18808-Ljbffr