Mon to Fri – no split shifts
Salary range £25k-28k
The Free From Bakehouse is a specialist baked goods business.  We sell our artisan produce at food markets and supply retail outlets and cafes throughout London and the UK.  We are about creative baking and artisan methods of production, often developing seasonal or themed cakes, as well as commercially considering food trends to develop the best ‘free from’ (gluten/wheat/dairy/sugar free and vegan) cake products.   We have received 15 Great Taste / Free From Awards since inception in 2010.
We now have a full time permanent vacancy for a hard-working individual to join our team as a skilled PASTRY CHEF and be responsible for producing a full range of (mainly) cake products to the highest standard and quality following company specifications and processes.
Please note this is NOT a role for those who’ve only baked Viennoiserie or bread or those who’ve just been cake decorators. A minimum of 2 year’s solid experience as a professional pastry chef producing a wide range of cakes in a commercial production kitchen or bakery is essential.
As an experienced head pastry chef you will enjoy working in a busy environment, consistently producing each day a variety of premium artisan baked goods.  You do not need to have experience of baking ‘free from’ products as you will receive training.  You will learn about the ‘free from’ world, ingredients and applications.  We use no premixes, no preservatives, no additives - your skills will be put to good use every day as you take the finest ingredients and create our delicious award winning cakes, brownies, cupcakes, savoury tarts, muffins and more.
Your main tasks and responsibilities will be:
1) Maintaining constant excellent quality of all products - attention to detail, ensuring consistency of taste, texture and appearance as well as quality control are essential.
2) Multi-tasking - experience of organising and juggling diverse baking tasks is necessary.
3) Planning and prioritising your weekly production baking schedule for wholesale shops, private orders and market outlets.   Ensuring optimum and timely production at all times.
4) Working closely with our cake decorator/pastry chef including other team members to ensure orders prepared and despatched to schedule.
5) Stock management and ordering of ingredients (via admin support)
6) Occasionally masking/decorating (using vegan frosting/buttercream/ganache) some cakes and cupcakes.
Maintaining consistent high standards and fulfilling order requirements in a timely manner is essential. The successful candidate will demonstrate added value by bringing fresh ideas and show creativity that add commercial value. You will be supported by a cake decorator though you will also need to have experience of decorating cupcakes and whole cakes (using buttercream/ganache/vegan frosting).
You should demonstrate the following:
• Enthusiasm and a ‘can-do’ attitude with a passion for pastry work.
• Self motivation and excellent organisational skills.
• A friendly and engaging communication style.
• Awareness of and ability to maintain high standards both generally and specifically as regards baked goods.
• A neat and tidy approach to all tasks
• Energy, stamina, tenancy and capacity for some long shifts, often under pressure.
• A sense of humour whilst remaining focused to produce variable quantities per shift.
• Ability to delegate and oversee supporting staff whilst remaining a ‘hands on’ worker and being a friendly, calm and happy team player.
• An interest in current baking/cake trends alongside willingness to adapt, and a flair for ideas and creativity.
• Working alongside the business owner, developing new products to meet customer trends, seasonality or themes (this could be bread/cake finishes or vegan items)
• An excellent level of written and spoken English ; you should also possess a valid work permit and National Insurance number.
• A knowledge of HACCP and food safety practices.

Hours: You should be familiar with working 40-50 hours pw (flexibility according to orders). A 7am start is a pre-requisite. Monday to Friday. In addition, weekend work (1 day) may be required once every 3-4 months and during seasonal months (Nov/Dec/Easter) and to support extra production for festivals (about 1-2 times a year).
Remuneration: Salary range £25-28k per annum plus benefits (28 days holidays, pension, fresh fruit, staff discounts on cake).
Location: Our kitchen unit in Lavender Hill, SW11 5 QL.
We reserve the right to change the job spec, location and skills required according to business needs.
We operate a strict no smoking policy – smoking during work time is prohibited.
If you feel there is a good match, please send your CV, covering email and photos of your work to the email address below.
The role is available from mid June. All suitable candidates will be sent an application form to complete prior to interview, after which you will hear from us again regarding an interview and trial.
Unfortunately, we are only able to reply to applications we wish to potentially take further. Any candidates applying by phone will be removed from the selection process.  No agencies will be considered.  Thank you.