The Cookery School

The Cookery School is a social enterprise based in East Dunbartonshire run by Silver Stag of Scotland Community Interest Company, which means we have a social purpose as our driving force. Any profits made are reinvested into our social purpose

Our Mission

• To address food injustice so that people and communities have the opportunity, to access a healthy and acceptable diet for themselves, their families and their communities whilst also considering the environmental challenges of the climate emergency, fuel poverty and food insecurity.

Our Vision:

• To be a financial viable commercial enterprise which provides cookery workshops to those travelling to Scotland as visitors and individuals and groups who are looking for a unique experience to celebrate a special event.
• To provide cookery classes and culinary therapy workshops for those who have experienced distress, disadvantage or isolation, or whose mental health has been adversely affected.

Our Core Values

• PRACTICING INTEGRITY

We hold each other mutually accountable for consistent and intentional performance in our work together, through reciprocal respect, honesty, and transparency.

• STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE

Each day we give our best, grounded in fairness and equity, always reaching for greater achievement as we create together a sustainable organization with exemplary leadership programs dedicated to whole person development.

• EMBODYING SELFLESSNESS

We serve the needs of others. Our shared purpose is to give back to our communities, making them a better place.

• FOSTERING HOPE

We provide opportunity, cultivate confidence, and expand the horizons of possibility for a better tomorrow.

Our cookery masterclasses and events help fund our community cookery classes and culinary therapy workshops for those in Scotland who have experienced distress, disadvantage or isolation, or whose mental health has been adversely affected.

This is an exciting time for us as we look to launch our commercial cookery kitchen and chocolate emporium in north Glasgow. We are now looking for a manager who can develop the commercial side of the business and design and deliver cookery classes and courses to those who are visiting Scotland as a traveller or those who looking for a unique experience to celebrate a special event. Using the best of Scotland’s larder and in some workshops twisting them with international flavours, we aim to ignite people’s passion for food by developing their cooking skills by supporting their curiosity and inviting them to be creative in the kitchen, not tied to recipes but confident to try to new things

Purpose of the Job:

Ideally, due to the nature of this role, it is preferable the candidate has a visitors experience background, teaching in cookery or hotel or fine dining background and has excellent people management and communication skills, as well as experience in cooking traditions from different cultures [including Scottish]. Inputs on Food Waste, cooking on a budget is also required.

You will be responsible for the daily teaching of our commercial Cookery School courses, includes the creation of recipe content.

Your success will be measured in your ability to put on engaging content for our customers, with positive feedback a good indication. If you have proven hospitality experience (3 years preferably), a good understanding of kitchen operation and the experience and knowledge of a wide range of cuisines, sweet and savoury baking, and various cooking techniques, a Chef Tutor job could be for you.

Classes can be daytime or evening or weekends.

This is an exciting time for us as we move forward in the development of our cookery school and chocolate making facility based in North Glasgow. We are now looking for a chef to join the team to assist the Cookery School Manager in the growth and delivery of both the commercial cookery school and the community kitchen. This is not your average chef role, but an opportunity to be part of a vibrant new cookery school where your skills and creative input are valued and vital to the vision of our enterprise.

If you have proven hospitality/catering experience, a wide-ranging knowledge of different cuisines and techniques and most importantly exceptional people skills then this could be the role for you.

About Us

Ramekin and Rolling Pin is a social enterprise based in East Dunbartonshire run by Silver Stag of Scotland Community Interest Company, which means we have a social purpose as our driving force. Any profits made are reinvested into our social purpose.

Ramekin and Rolling Pin aims to address food injustice so that people and communities have the opportunity to access a healthy and acceptable diet for themselves, their families and their communities whilst also considering the environmental challenges of the climate emergency, fuel poverty and food insecurity.

Ramekin and Rolling Pin has two main objectives:

• To be a financially viable commercial enterprise which provides cookery workshops to those travelling to Scotland as visitors and individuals and groups who are looking for a unique experience to celebrate a special event.
• To provide cookery classes and culinary therapy workshops for those who have experienced distress, disadvantage or isolation, or whose mental health has been adversely affected.

Our cookery masterclasses and events help fund our community cookery classes and culinary therapy workshops for those in the local area who have experienced distress, disadvantage or isolation, or whose mental health has been adversely affected.

The Role

In the main the successful candidate will assist the Cookery School Manager in the planning and delivery of our Community Cookery Programmes and our Commercial Cookery School. This will include daily, weekly or monthly duties (whichever applicable) from the categories below.

1. Facilitating Workshops

Community

• Assisting the CSM in the planning and delivery of easily prepared nutritious meals for sessions ensuring that content is suitable to the age, physical, emotional and social ability of all participants and is in line with health and safety standards and healthy eating guidelines.
• Assisting in the sourcing of ingredients, using fresh produce and/or edible food waste wherever possible
• Preparing the workstations with awareness of potential risks
• Encouraging participants to try healthy food and promote healthy eating within the home, drawing upon a common selection of ingredients
• Ensuring that basic food hygiene procedures are followed
• Preparing for and clearing up after cookery sessions
• Working with and training a group of volunteers to become peer-to-peer workshop facilitators.

Commercial

• Working with the CSM to determine marketing and sales strategies to maximise exposure and income
• Sharing responsibility for monitoring weekly, monthly and annual sales performance and achieving targets for income
• Working within an environmental agenda to ensure effective zero waste and waste management protocols.
• Assisting in the development and promotion of creative, engaging workshops and events.

2. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Supporting the CSM in taking part in regular evaluation reviews of programme delivery ensuring the continuous improvement of our services
• Supporting the CSM in ensuring all data recording is captured accurately enabling robust impact assessment, delivery of funding agreements and the effective use of our resources
• Assisting in the writing up of evaluations of the sessions
• To undertake other duties appropriate to the post in support of the organisation’s smooth functioning

Person Specification

Essential

• An interest in and desire to work towards the vision, mission and aims of Ramekin and Rolling Pin including a commitment to healthy diet and living.
• Well organised with an ability to plan and deliver cookery classes enthusiastically, within agreed timelines and following set processes
• Ability to respect individuals and during delivery encourage their interest in food relating to all aspects of their lives.
• Ability to deliver food demonstrations in an engaging, interactive and informal way to all ages including children and young people, striving for an inclusive approach
• Experience of using and working within appropriate protocols and procedures such as Cooksafe
• Commitment to working in a values-based culture including non-discriminatory and equal opportunities practice
• Proven professional cookery experience
• Elementary Food Hygiene Certificate
• Willingness to undergo PVG check
• Experience of cooking food from different cultures (including Scottish)

Desirable

• Experience of supporting people with higher support needs eg: those with learning difficulties or mental health issues
• Awareness and understanding of community food and health issues
• Experience of monitoring and evaluation
• Experience of working in tourism/visitor experience

About Us:

Silver Stag of Scotland is a Community Interest Company which ensures that all surplus resources are reinvested into our social purpose of alleviating poverty and the effects of poverty.

As part of our mission, we have recently secured 24 acres of wood and 10 acres of fields to improve the quality of our work and position ourselves to be at the forefront of working with local communalities to grow and manage the natural environment, to ensure sustainable living whilst also growing healthy food and improving food literacy.

We already have a community kitchen and cookery school which focuses on tackling poverty and food insecurity, whilst considering the environmental impact of the food system, sustainability, seasonality and health and nutrition. We also have a designated Learning Hub which provides accredited vocational training to a wide range of individuals in different subjects.

Purpose of the Job:

We are looking for a Wood and Field and Manager to help us make the land we look after healthier and more resilient. We want biodiversity and wildlife to thrive, have natural resources that are accessible to more people, and contribute to addressing the climate crisis.

At the same time we want to farm our fields in a sustainable way that produces food that can be resold and ensure an income to the project whilst also developing opportunities to support those with long term health conditions to participate in volunteer in a natural environment.

The Wood and Field Manager will be responsible for 5 main areas of work:

1. Developing and Maintaining Site Layout

2. Determining and farming to a Crop Plan

3. Identifying a sustainable Community Wood Action Plan

4. Expanding Our Markets

5. Growing our volunteer base

The Birdston Wood and Fields Community Project

The Birdston Wood and Fields Community Project is managed by a consortia of several third sector organisations within East Dunbartonshire. Each partner has particular skills and knowledge that they bring to the partnership whilst at the same time ensuring that the work maintains its sometimes competing demands of priority.

The Birdston Wood and Fields Community Project aims to:

• Provide an educational experience which connects people with food and the land and promotes compassionate farming and environmental sustainability.

• Engage the community, including those who are marginalised, in meaningful activity.

• Create a sense of community and belonging where people can develop and be valued.