Landmark destination with Rosette Aspirations

Start your career as a Commis Chef at Windmill Village Hotel — gain hands-on kitchen experience, learn from expert chefs, and build essential skills in a supportive, professional environment while earning as you train.

Wage

• £14,560 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
• National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
• Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

All staff receive a share of any tips

Training course

• Commis chef (level 2)

Hours

• 35 hours including weekends and bank holidays. Days and shifts TBC.

Start date

• Friday 28 August 2026

Duration

• 1 year 2 months

Positions available

• 1

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

• Preparing basic ingredients (washing, peeling, chopping vegetables, trimming meat, preparing sauces)
• Assisting senior chefs (Chef de Partie, Sous Chef) with food preparation and cooking
• Cooking simple dishes or components of dishes under supervision
• Ensuring food is prepared to the required quality and presentation standards
• Keeping workstations clean, organised, and hygienic at all times
• Following food safety and hygiene regulations (e.g. HACCP procedures)
• Receiving and storing deliveries correctly (checking quality, stock rotation/FIFO)
• Helping with mise en place for busy service periods
• Plating and garnishing dishes according to the pub’s style
• Maintaining kitchen equipment and reporting any faults
• Managing time efficiently during busy service to meet demand
• Assisting with stock control and informing senior staff of shortages
• Supporting other sections of the kitchen when needed
• Learning new cooking techniques and menu items
• Working as part of a team to ensure smooth kitchen operations

Where you'll work

Windmill Village Hotel Golf Club and Spa
Birmingham Road
Allesley
CV5 9AL

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

• SOLIHULL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CENTRE

Training course

• Commis chef (level 2)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Selects correct knife for task.
• Uses knives effectively and efficiently.
• Selects ingredients of the right quality that support sustainability and seasonality.
• Weighs, measures, and scales ingredients.
• Cooks from fresh producing complete dishes.
• Prepares, cooks, and finishes meat, offal, game, poultry, fish, and shellfish from whole; trim, de-vein, portion, break down, bone, skin, fillet, shell.
• Prepares, cooks, and finishes fruit vegetables.
• Prepares, cooks, and finishes sauces.
• Prepares, cooks and finishes pureed and cream soup and stock based dishes.
• Prepares and cooks noodles, and fresh or convenience pasta.
• Prepares and cooks pulses and grains, including long and short grain rice.
• Prepares, cooks and finishes eggs or egg based dishes.
• Prepares, cooks and finishes leavened and unleavened dough products.
• Prepares, cooks and finishes sweet and savoury pastry products using short, sweet, and choux.
• Prepares, cooks, and finishes scones, biscuits, sponge cakes, and non-sponge cakes.
• Prepares, produces, and finishes hot and cold desserts.
• Stuffs, fills and panés across food types.
• Prepares and cooks dishes using alternative ingredients eg plant based, gluten free.
• Prepares fresh ingredients, including from whole, using them across a menu to reduce waste and improve sustainability
• Uses seasoning, spices, rubs, and marinades to flavour ingredients.
• Sears, grills, deep fries, shallow fries, stir fries, sautés, braises, stews, bakes, roasts, boils, poaches across food types.
• Portions, plates, finishes, garnishes, and presents individual dishes.
• Exercises portion control and acts to maximise yield.
• Achieves intended quality in terms of texture, flavour, and appearance
• Identifies and resolves errors during the production process.
• Assists in the resolution of feedback, complaints, and issues.
• Prepares, cleans and uses manual and electrical food-preparation and cooking equipment and machinery safely, correctly and efficiently.
• Applies food safety and allergen procedures, including monitoring temperatures, during preparation, cooking, and holding.
• Selects and applies hygiene management techniques to maintain a safe clean work environment, including personal hygiene, PPE, and uniform.
• Complies with health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures.
• Undertakes stock control, storage, and rotation.
• Applies food safety and allergen procedures, and monitors and records food temperatures, on delivery and in storage.
• Follows equity, diversity and inclusion legislation and organisational policies.
• Uses techniques for maintaining good mental health and wellbeing to support self and others, including asking for and giving help with daily tasks.
• Communicates with colleagues, manager and other stakeholders in a professional manner.
• Works as part of a team to support service delivery.
• Uses feedback to improve own performance.
• Manages own time to ensure tasks are completed.