University Barista: Part-Time (20 hrs/wk) Craft Coffee

Barista (University Setting) – Chartwells, London

Chartwells, a major name in UK catering, is hiring a Part-Time Barista for a university location in London. This role offers a consistent 20-hour work week in a unique educational environment, perfect for someone who enjoys the academic buzz and wants to work for an established, large-scale catering organization.

Job Summary

• Employer: Chartwells (part of the Compass Group)

• Location: University campus, London

• Position: Part-time (20 hours per week)

• Environment: A professional, fast-paced university café setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Coffee Craftsmanship: Prepare and serve high-quality specialty coffee drinks to students, faculty, and staff.

• Service: Provide friendly, efficient customer service and assist with light food service.

• Facilities Management: Ensure the café area remains clean, organized, and compliant with health and safety standards.

• Engagement: Use your communication skills to build rapport with a diverse, regular customer base.

Requirements

• Experience: Prior customer service experience is required. (Experience as a Barista is highly beneficial).

• Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills to handle the high volume of student and staff interactions.

• Attitude: A motivated, proactive approach with a focus on cleanliness and efficiency.

• Availability: Ability to commit to a 20-hour weekly schedule in an educational setting.

Why Choose a University Setting?

Working for a large caterer like Chartwells within a university provides a very different experience than a high-street café:

• Academic Schedule: University cafés often follow a more predictable rhythm compared to high-street retail, often coinciding with term times and lecture schedules.

• Large Organization Benefits: Being part of the Compass Group (the parent company of Chartwells) typically means access to formal training, standardized benefits, and genuine internal promotion opportunities across their massive network of sites.

• Community Feel: You are serving the same community of students and staff every day, which allows you to build long-term relationships with your regulars.

Application Strategy

Because this role is for a “leading catering service,” the recruitment process may be more structured than a small independent shop.

• Highlight Consistency: Large catering firms prioritize reliability. Emphasize your punctuality and your ability to follow set operational procedures.

• Focus on “Customer Experience”: In a university, you aren’t just selling coffee; you are part of the students’ daily “fueling” process. Emphasize that you bring a positive, professional energy to help start their day right.

• Show Adaptability: If you have experience in fast-paced catering (like events or cafeterias), highlight that as it proves you can handle the “rush” periods between lectures.

  Chartwells is the UK’s leading provider of catering and support services for the education sector, serving millions of meals across schools, colleges, and universities. Part of the Compass Group, the company focuses on “fuelling young minds” by combining nutrition with education. Their culture is centered on sustainability, health-focused innovation, and community engagement, often through initiatives like their “Beyond the Chartwells Kitchen” program. By integrating professional culinary standards with educational workshops, they aim to foster long-term healthy habits and positive social environments for students nationwide.

  Key Company Highlights

  Feature	Details
  Industry	Education catering and facilities management
  Parent Company	Compass Group UK & Ireland
  Philosophy	Fuelling young minds through nutrition and education
  Focus	Sustainability, healthy eating, and food literacy
  Presence	Over 2,000 educational institutions across the UK