Looking to hire a Sous Chef? Find a qualified professional with Brigad

A Sous Chef is the right hand of a Head Chef, acting as the day-to-day operational manager of a busy kitchen. Sous chefs are in demand because they do everything from manage rotas and come up with menus and special dishes to oversee quality, hygiene, suppliers, training, recruitment, and how dishes look when they’re plated up and about to leave the kitchen.

A freelance Sous Chef engaged for a short or long-term work typically focuses on the following tasks:

• Assisting in the creation and preparation of a wide array of dishes, both classic and innovative, to meet the specific needs and theme of the event or establishment.
• Playing a key role in managing and organising kitchen inventory, ensuring the sourcing of high-quality ingredients and their optimal freshness.
• Acting as an intermediary between the Head Chef and the kitchen staff, ensuring efficient and effective communication for smooth food preparation and service.
• Maintaining stringent standards of food safety and kitchen hygiene, in compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Directly engaging with guests when needed, providing insights into the menu and accommodating special dietary needs or requests.
• Assisting in the development and implementation of standard operating procedures for food preparation and presentation.
• Working closely with the Head chef and Restaurant Manager to ensure a coordinated and efficient service flow from the kitchen to the dining area.
• Contributing to the adaptation of menus and cooking styles to suit the ambiance and culinary expectations of the restaurant or event.
• Supervising and mentoring junior kitchen staff, providing guidance and support in various culinary techniques and practices.
• Ensuring a high level of quality control and consistency in the preparation and presentation of dishes.

Traditional methods to hire a Sous Chef in London

Hiring a sous chef in London, a city renowned for its diverse and vibrant culinary scene, requires a nuanced approach. Traditional recruitment methods have been the backbone of staffing kitchens, yet they come with inherent limitations that can hinder finding the ideal candidate.

Employment or temp agencies specializing in hospitality

Though they provide a tailored service, employment agencies come with high costs. Additionally, there's a risk of mismatched placements due to the agency's sometimes limited understanding of the kitchen's specific needs and culture.

Employee Referral Programs

Encouraging staff to refer candidates can expedite the hiring process. However, the potential for nepotism and reliance on a limited network can skew the diversity and quality of applicants.

Recruitment Fairs and Open Days

While offering the chance to meet a broad range of candidates, the generic nature of these events may not cater to the specific needs of hiring a sous chef, where specialized skills and fit within the kitchen culture are paramount.

Online Job Portals

General job portals offer wide visibility. The drawback is their broad focus, which often leads to an overwhelming number of unqualified applications, increasing the workload on hiring teams to sift through them.

Social Media Platforms

Social media can tap into a vast network of potential hires. Yet, concerns over professionalism and the sheer volume of information can dilute the effectiveness of this method in attracting the right candidates.

Looking to hire a Sous Chef for your establishment ?

Whether it's for a wedding, a special evening, or even to strengthen your restaurant team, hiring a reliable sous chef can sometimes be a tedious task. 

If you have not had much luck with job boards or the use of temp agencies, and candidates in the hospitality and catering sector are not rushing in, lack motivation, or have not got the experience or skills you are looking for, Brigad is here to provide a solution.

Publish short-term work offers on the Brigad app or website to interested independent freelance Sous Chefs and other hospitality professionals, who are ready to work and able to pick up short-term shifts and fill gaps in your staffing rota. 

With the Brigad business app (available for download via the App Store or Google Play), you can be easily connected with the Sous Chef your business needs.

To start with, simply download the Brigad Business app via the App Store or Google Play. Create an account and you can get started. 

Sign-up for free and post a mission corresponding to your needs for a Sous Chef in under 3 minutes. Chances are that your mission will be accepted within a matter of hours by a qualified Sous Chef. 

How to use Brigad to hire a Sous Chef

Restaurant, pub, bar, café, and hotel food & beverage (F&B) managers, owners, or operators looking to hire independent Sous Chefs or other hospitality professionals can easily create a mission using the Brigad app. Simply select the dates and times, hours, days needed, the role needed, and add a description that details the requirements and expectations.

Your job offer, also known as a “mission” (the short-term shift for which you need filled), will be sent to only the most relevant, qualified, and fully vetted talents who meet your criteria. Once one of them accepts the mission, you will be notified and put in contact.

The Sous Chef will arrive on the day of the mission ready to work, as they will have received all the necessary information from your mission description to successfully complete the mission.

This means you can be confident in finding the right Sous Chef to fulfill your business's operational needs.

No more wasting time selecting a profile from dozens, or even hundreds of options. Post a new mission on Brigad in less than 3 minutes, then just sit back and let the  algorithm handle the rest. Only the most relevant talents will receive your mission proposition, and the most motivated Sous Chef will be the one to accept it.

Invoices are generated and payments are made automatically, simplifying the process for your business or organisation's finance team. This allows you to focus on running your busy restaurant, pub, bar, café, or hotel food & beverage (F&B) operation.

Need to find a Sous Chef in a hurry ? 

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Post a mission on the Brigad business app in less than 3 minutes. Two thirds of missions are accepted in under 2 hours. Fill your staffing rotas efficiently, even in urgent, time-sensitive situations. Problem solved.

Benefits of working with Brigad when looking to hire a Sous Chef

Brigad provides a range of benefits for establishments like restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes, and hotels, as well as catering venues and events in London by facilitating connections with skilled Sous Chefs and other hospitality professionals.

A strict vetting process

The hospitality industry is too busy and fast-paced for people who aren’t serious and committed to the work. After a rigorous vetting process by our team of experts, only the most qualified Sous Chefs are offered access to the Brigad platform. 

As an owner, operator, or manager, you might worry about verifying the paperwork of the Sous Chef who is coming to work for you. However, you don’t need to worry about any of that, as we handle all checks for you.

All profiles on the Brigad platform undergo a strict two-step vetting process, executed by both the app and the Brigad team. This thorough verification ensures you work with only the best independent, self-employed (inside HMRC IR35), or freelance Sous Chefs and other hospitality professionals. 

The backgrounds, IDs, employment history, and training of all Sous Chefs are verified to ensure they are reliable and experts in their field before they’re able to accept any missions on the Brigad app. This way, you can be 100% confident that the person is who they say they are and have a legal right to live and work in the UK.

Essential Soft Skills of Sous Chefs in the Brigad Community

• Exceptional Communication Skills: Bartenders must effectively communicate with customers, coworkers, and management, ensuring clear understanding and positive interactions. This includes active listening, clear articulation of menu options, and the ability to manage customer expectations and feedback diplomatically.
• Strong Interpersonal Skills: A bartender's ability to build rapport with customers and create a welcoming atmosphere is crucial. This includes being approachable, engaging, and having the ability to connect with a diverse clientele, often making customers feel valued and ensuring their return.
• Stress Management and Resilience: Working in a fast-paced environment, especially during peak hours, requires bartenders to remain calm under pressure, manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and maintain a positive demeanor, even in challenging situations.

Only work with driven freelance professionals on Brigad

Freelance Sous Chefs and other hospitality professionals represent their own interests and build their own network of customers, which is why they are particularly reliable and motivated. So, you don’t have to worry about last-minute surprises, like a no-show an hour before a busy restaurant opens or a wedding feast needs to be cooked.

A dedicated assistance team

A member of the account management and customer experience will be assigned to you to provide support during your first month on Brigad to make sure that you understand the features and are making the most of the platform. Should any problems arise, our  responsive Assistance Team is available seven days a week to ensure that solutions are readily available for any situation that might be encountered.

Mission prices for Sous Chefs in the UK

All prices are dynamically calculated to consider tension rates, ensuring competitive pricing tailored to your specific requirements. 

The cost is determined by multiplying an hourly rate by the number of hours you need a Sous Chef for. When you create a mission, you'll receive an instant quote. 

This is the fixed price you pay once a self-employed Sous Chef accepts your mission, so there are no surprise costs or hidden charges.

A dynamic pricing means that costs are competitively calculated for each new mission. 

You have control over the pricing, allowing you to adjust it upwards if needed. This flexibility can enhance the likelihood of your mission being quickly accepted by talented independent hospitality and catering professionals in London and surroundings areas.