Do you want to transform your career and pass on your hospitality and catering experience to the next generation?

Whether you want to support our school-leavers, apprenticeship and adult learners, train a world-famous food blogger, critic or food stylist, you’ll be encouraging students to interpret and apply traditional cooking techniques of ‘restless perfectionism’ and ‘creative curiosity’. 

Our catering offering at Activate Learning is truly unique. In partnership with Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck Group, our curriculum has been developed to advance our student’s cooking skills.

Heston's mantra is to ‘Question Everything’ and a successful journey through this industry is powered by a strong sense of curiosity, a desire to learn and by receiving instruction that is relevant, authentic, motivating and sparks imagination. This is aligned with the Activate Learning Philosophy, which is rooted in an understanding of how the brain, motivation and emotions work together to encourage learning.

Take a look at what Heston Blumenthal has to say! - If this link isn't working please visit our careers page by applying for more information

The role: Hospitality and Catering Teacher

We now have a full-time opportunity to teach across levels 1, 2 and 3 within the Activate Learning Hospitality and Catering department at Reading College. You will be responsible for the delivery, assessment, and tracking student achievement for the courses.

This post provides an excellent opportunity for an individual with passion and drive who is committed to enabling our students to unlock their potential and switch on to the power of learning. For example, a culinary arts student from one of our colleges has been crowned the Young Risotto Chef of the Year 2021 and we would love the candidate for this post to continue to drive competition experiences forward. 

We also have a full-time post at Banbury College and an additional part-time (22.3 hours per week) opportunity at Reading College.

What do you need to be a successful Hospitality and Catering Teacher?

Whilst previous teaching experience and qualification would be an advantage, it is not a requirement. As long as you have the qualifications to teach Hospitality and Catering, and demonstrate the attributes to be an inspirational teacher, we can provide you with the necessary training, development and support to equip you to teach in the FE sector. 

You will have worked in the industry as a Head Chef, Sous Chef, or Chef de Partie and you will have a passion for using this experience to develop the skills of the future generation. 

Communication with industry partners is also a requirement for this role as we work closely with hotel chains, local restaurants, and contract catering employers to supply work placement, apprenticeships, mentorships and masterclass demonstrations for our students.

You will also have strong organisation skills coupled with the ability to prioritise workloads and will benefit from being part of a supportive team, working in a varied and interesting role with a variety of opportunities for career development.

• Experience as a Head Chef, Sous Chef, or Chef de Partie is essential
• It is desirable if you have a PGCE and worked within education as a teacher, but this is not essential

What are the benefits of working for Activate Learning Group? 

At Activate Learning, we see our employees as individuals, empowering them to make the right choices for their ambitions and careers. We value our people as vital to our continued success and aspire to a diverse, open and inclusive environment that provides the motivation for everyone to pursue their career goals and flourish.

When you work for Activate Learning, you’re working for an organisation that provides you with the advantages of a large employer, a trusted partner in your career development, and a transformational way of working whilst also investing in building a community environment for everyone.

Together, we will bring out the best version of yourself.

Activate Learning offer substantial benefits to its employees: 

• Teachers’ pension schemes 
• Generous annual leave  
• Comprehensive sick pay 
• Access to training and development 
• Discount scheme for high street stores & restaurants  
• Discounted rail and bus tickets 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Onsite parking 
• Coaching and mentoring programmes and CPD (Continuing Professional Development) sessions are available 
• Employee Assistance program  

Applications are reviewed and shortlisted on a rolling basis and we reserve the right to interview, appoint and close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive.

We therefore encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as once we have closed a vacancy you will be unable to submit your application form.

Activate Learning is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its staff to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to undergo a DBS check at the appropriate level.

Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK as we do not sponsor work permits and work permits from other organisations are unacceptable as proof of right to work in the UK.

Applications are encouraged from all candidates meeting or exceeding the minimum criteria for the role regardless of age, disability, gender, orientation, race, religion or ethnicity.

Activate Learning are committed to employing people with disabilities and will ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. If you require any reasonable adjustments either at application or interview stage please contact the talent team directly.