WeCook – Fuelling the Future

With the bairns settled back into school after the summer, autumnal weather nipping at our heels, and a cost of living crisis affecting more people than ever before, it’s never been more important to ensure our school children have a hot, nutritious and tasty meal at lunchtime.

We need your help to continue making that happen – and it’s a chance for you to earn some money too.

There’s a number of jobs available across the county in our schools from cooks to kitchen assistants, permanent to relief posts.

For those working in our schools already, they tell us it’s a very worthwhile role to play that is particularly helpful if you have children of your own as it works in perfectly around school hours and term time.

Don’t just take our word for what a fabulous role it is, check out some comments from staff here –

One said: “I wanted a job that would fit in around my bairns so working in the school kitchen is just perfect. The days are busy, the team I work with are great and I really do love it. I would genuinely encourage anyone to give it a go, you don’t have to be an experienced cook as there’s lots of variety within the job – from preparing the fruit, to making up the sandwiches and fillings for the baked tatties to prepping the veg. I love my job. Please think about coming and joining any of the teams – we’re a friendly bunch to work with.”

Another added: “I came to work here when the bairns went to school which is about 6 years ago now. I had a catering background anyway and the hours are perfect meaning I can be home for them outwith school hours and holidays – there’s no stress involved in trying to organise childcare.

“I wonder if some folk are put off by it as they think they have to be able to be an experienced cook, but that’s not the case if you are applying for a kitchen assistant post. There’s a huge variety of jobs to do that actually don’t involve cooking as such, from the prep work to making up the sandwiches and fillings, to cleaning up and preparing fruit and vegetables. Just give it a go, we are a great team, full of fun and the hours just fly by.”

One more said: “Knowing I would be off outwith school hours and the school holidays was a definite selling point for me having young children. I wasn’t sure about applying as I thought you would have to do a lot of cooking – but in my role that’s not the case so don’t let that put you off. We are a great bunch to work with so give it a go.”

The Council’s school catering manager, Scott Pring, added: “We all know a tasty, healthy meal at lunchtime can make all the difference to how well pupils learn later in the day. Many who have worked in our school kitchens have been with us for a very long time which is testament to the great working environment and love of the job. Please consider giving a career in catering a go – there are various roles from cooks to kitchen assistants to relief work.”

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Scott on (01856) 879238 or scott.pring@orkney.gov.uk

To find out more about the jobs head over to myjobscotland website – https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/ there’s a cook supervisor job at Stromness Primary School ref ORK06088, relief staff, both cooks ORK04978 and kitchen assistants ORK06034.