5 Signs Your Kitchen Needs a Relief Chef

Running a professional business is no small feat, especially when good food and service is the heart of a successful hospitality business. We all know that if the food is incredible and the service is top-notch, the customers will come.

But when cracks start to show, whether it’s staff feeling the strain, service slowing down, or standards slipping, it can quickly impact the whole operation. Spotting the warning signs early is key, so if if any of these points hit home, it's probably time to source the help of us, Arc Hospitality Recruitment!

You Need More Hands On Deck for Seasonal Peaks

Seasonal peaks are some of the most exciting and stressful times of year for those in the hospitality industry. Christmas parties, wedding season, summer events, or even prom nights can cause a huge spike in demand for good old fashioned hospitality. For many businesses, this time of year is the best opportunity to maximise profits but without the right team of chefs and kitchen staff in place, kitchens can quickly become overwhelmed impacting guest experience.

Even the best teams can't suddenly develop the ability to manage double their workload with the same number of of staff in place. They need additional help which can be provided through hiring temporary relief chefs.

At Arc, we have a dedicated Back of House department, led by Michael McGuiness, a former industry-leading chef. He has built a network of incredible chefs across the UK who can step in quickly to enhance your kitchen operation, especially throughout these seasonal peaks.

You Have Last-Minute Staff Absences

Your whole kitchen team has called in sick and you're in need of last-minute chefs, kitchen porters, and pot washers. Don't panic, that's what we're here for! We're prepped to handle these situations and have a database of chefs and kitchen staff who are ready and waiting to work.

In addition to the strong rapport Michael and his team have established with the chefs in which a quick phone call or text could have your new team secured, we make use of a communication feature within our staffing software, Ubeya. This tool enables us to instantly reach thousands of team members, with the ability to target specific groups and locations.

So, when that unexpected phone call comes in with your worst nightmare, you just need to reach out to our friendly commercial team who will get you up and running as soon as possible.

Your Quality is decreasing

Your kitchen operation is struggling, the quality of food is decreasing, waiting times are increasing, and your team has lost its pizzazz somewhere along the way. In times like these, you don’t necessarily need a permanent hire, you need a head chef who can swoop in, steady the ship, and boost performance in the short term.

How do you know that we are going to produce quality chefs to your business? At Arc, we are one of the UK’s leading temporary staffing agencies, trusted by some of the most iconic venues and events across the country. From world-leading sports finals to high-profile hospitality settings, our chefs have proven themselves on some of the biggest stages in the industry.

We supply the right staff for great guest experiences and your peace of mind, you can be confident that the relief chef stepping into your kitchen is capable, reliable, and ready to uphold your reputation. Whether you’re running a bustling hotel kitchen, a high-volume stadium event, or a fine dining restaurant, our chefs bring the expertise and consistency your business deserves.

You Are Struggling to find the right person

Even the most seasoned hiring managers can find it difficult to find the right person to fit the role. Hiring someone new in your permanent team is a huge responsibility and great commitment, it's vital that you are sure the person you are taking on is right for the job, the company, and the team.

Yet, operations and expectations don't stop just because you're not in the position to hire right now, and that's where we come in! As a temporary staffing and recruitment agency that have a specialist team for temporary and relief chefs, we can be there to cover those rough patches.

We have, at times, placed temporary chefs in businesses, only for them to be hired on a full-time basis. That's the power of our back of house team's knowledge of our team members and matching them to client requirements!

Your Team is Stretched and Verging on Burn-Out

Burnout for chefs is a real problem, in fact, statistics from The Burnt Chef Project, a charity set up to eradicate the stigma of mental health within the hospitality industry, found that up to 84% of hospitality workers have faced burnout at some point within their careers.

Hospitality workers often face tough conditions at work, long hours stood on their feet and for chefs, pair that with a boiling hot kitchen, constant time pressure, and the need to deliver perfection plate after plate.

By hiring a relief chef to step in, you can relieve the workload, and restore the balance needed for your kitchen to be operating in the most efficient way, with an overall happier, healthier team.

If any of these reasons hit close to home, then it's time to get in touch with our team to discuss how we can best support your business.