Agency Chef Jobs: What Is A Chef Agency & How Does It Work?
Whether you're looking for a candidate for your kitchen or searching for your next job, a specialist chef recruitment agency can help. As a temporary chef agency, we place relief chefs in restaurants, hotels, care homes, and pub sites across the UK.
Learn how employment or recruitment via a chef agency could work for you.
How do you become an agency chef?
Do you love to cook, have experience in a range of professional kitchens and have an interest in trying out the relief chef lifestyle?
Becoming an agency chef with us is simple and you could be out on your next job much sooner than you expect.
View our live chef job vacancies and apply to work with us here.
Do chef agencies work with chefs of all levels?
Yes, some chef agencies work with every level of the industry, from catering assistant right up to head chef.
We only work with head chefs, sous chefs, and chefs de partie.
Where can I find relief chef job vacancies?
View our latest vacancies here.
Do relief chefs get paid for every hour and shift they work?
Yes! At Chefs Jobs UK, you'll always be paid for every hour and shift you put in.
Your employer will send us a weekly timesheet stating which hours you worked and we'll make sure you get paid for them all.
Plus, you'll accrue holiday pay for every hour you work - learn more about holiday pay as a relief chef in this article.
Can I work daytime hours in catering and hospitality?
Depending on the placement, yes. We have a range of clients offering different working hours and you are always encouraged to state your working preferences when you sign up to work with us.
While we will always try to accommodate your preferences, it's best to keep an open mind about different working schedules and settings if you're keen to stay in regular employment as vacancies vary throughout the year.
However, it’s always your choice which placement you take.
Do agency chef jobs mean I have to work weekends and late nights?
Again, it depends. Many of our placements do include weekend work and late nights.
However, we always make sure you have regular breaks and days off to ensure your physical and mental health are looked after - and remember, you choose which jobs you take.
We’ll always explain fully what’s expected of you before you agree to be sent out to a new place, and we’ll keep in touch to see how it’s going.
Are any term time only chefs needed?
Yes, sometimes! From time to time, we work with educational establishments like schools, universities, and colleges where chefs are only required to work term time hours.
Some chefs choose to work with us to fit in with their lives and they're looking for term time hours to work around their families, so this suits them.
Other chefs work term time elsewhere or with us and then pick up extra placements during the school holidays to tide them over financially during the break.
Don't forget, you do also accrue holiday pay when you work with us, so you have the option of building it up during term time and take a paid holiday during academic breaks.
Can I get a good work life balance as a professional chef?
Absolutely, and being a temp chef helps with this.
Many of our chefs take extended breaks between placements to travel or spend time with loved ones, and you're also more in control of your schedule as a relief chef, because you can choose what type of role and hours you work.
Do agencies pay per hour?
At Chefs Jobs UK, we pay an hourly rate via PAYE. Your employer pays us, and we pay you directly.
Will I get paid weekly or monthly?
As a CJUK chef, your salary is paid weekly into your bank. You'll also pay tax via PAYE and we will take care of all the necessary deductions.
Can I find head chef, sous chef, and chef de partie roles through an agency?
Yes. At our chef agency, we take pride in working exclusively with head chefs, sous chefs, and chefs de partie to match them with great employers across the UK.
Read this blog to find out more about what it's like to work as a temp chef with us.
Types of venue you'll be working at
Our clients include restaurants, hotels, gastro pubs, educational establishments, and care homes.
As part of our brigade, you can work in a variety of settings creating all kinds of meals, which is great for broadening your horizons and sharpening your skills.
However, we always try to match you with a relevant job that suits your experience and skills.
What to do if you're a talented chef looking for your next job
Ready for your next career move? We're always looking for talented chefs with good qualifications, a great culinary skillset, a passionate approach to food, and a strong understanding of the latest health and safety regulations.
Are you a skilled and reliable chef interested to see what it's like to work with us? Get in touch today.
How to hire now if you need a chef urgently
In a hurry to fill a void in your kitchen so your customers can dine in style?
Contact our team and we'll spring into action to recruit the right chef for you. Whether you need someone within 24 hours, or you're looking for a more long term solution, we'll help you solve the problem.
Let us know what you need, and we'll tap into our network of DBS checked chefs ready to pick up the slack in your kitchen.
Looking for flexible temporary work across a wide range of catering environments across the UK?
Great news, we'd love to speak to you.
While our range of jobs can vary, we only ever work with fantastic clients who value their chefs and treat them respectfully.
If you'd like to join our team, enjoy competitive pay, and work flexibly to maintain a healthier balance in your life, let's talk. Contact us here and we'll take it from there.