Oak View Group (OVG) is the world’s leading arena development, management, and hospitality company founded in 2015 by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff to positively disrupt business as usual. As the largest developer of sports and entertainment facilities in the world, OVG prioritises the way we do business focusing on making long-term investments in our people and our planet.

OVG have completed seven arenas, with many more in development, including Co-op Live, with more to be announced in the future.

Co-op Live is in a joint venture partnership with City Football Group and we are proud to work with Co-op as our Naming Rights Partner.

Co-op Live will offer a food and beverage hospitality service that will put us head and shoulders above the crowd, as we welcome over 23,500 fans and amazing artists to taste the delicious food and drinks unique to the space in Manchester.

With 32 amazing bars and restaurants and 12 premium lounges and clubs – we’re going to be delivering an exceptional hospitality service for the people of Manchester and beyond. On the menu will be great food, seasoned with world class service and all with a planet friendly vibe in the heart of our vibrant community.

For more information - Co-op Live

As we gear up to opening our doors, we’re excited to announce we are looking for entry level and experienced Kitchen Assistants to work with our Commis Chefs and CDPs and support the kitchen teams in their mobilization of the venue. Helping to develop and produce commercially viable, creative, and innovative consistent products ready for opening.

Our brigade of chefs and kitchen assistants will be working in brand new kitchens/kiosk units responsible for preparing, cooking, and serving a high quality menu for over twenty-three thousand covers on event days, supporting us in creating the best live music experience in the UK.

This is a great way to kick start a culinary career and gain some fantastic experience in the events industry!

• Play a part in motivating and inspiring the kitchen teams and business to new higher levels of culinary excellence
• Take responsibility of the running and organisation of your designated task within the kitchen or unit under direction from CDPs and senior Chefs
• Ensure all standards of food service set out are met
• Help and maintain a maximum yield in relation to gross profit and wastage in the kitchen
• Ensure you meet all standards and levels of base mis-en-plas.
• Work with your kitchen teams to ensure that food standards across the business have a consistently high standard of quality and presentation and complying with all food policies
• Champion all related aspects of food safety and hygiene are met
• Complete menu knowledge
• Identify opportunities into which existing products could be adapted and new products developed
• Work on company briefs to deliver innovative and profitable solutions
• Support the concept team to meet and exceed fan expectations
• All designated daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning duties are carried out
• Assist in and identify where waste can be reduced and controlled
• Ensure that potential new products can be produced profitably and meet food safety requirements
• Completion of accurate recipes where applicable
• Correspond with all parties that all the recipe information, calorie counts, and allergens are correctly passed on
• Assist, cook and present products clearly, accurately, and confidently at relevant presentations/tastings
• Build great professional relationships with relevant departments across Co-op Live and OVG Hospitality

This is a casual role offering flexible shifts available around your other commitments - involves shifts at evenings and weekends

Hourly Rate: Real Living Wage - Minimum £12.50 per hour + holiday pay on top

Start Date: March or April 2024 - when we open our doors to Co-op Live!

Essential

• Good communication and language skills with employees, co-workers, management staff, suppliers fostering a positive and cooperative work environment
• Good presentation skills 
• Champion working as part of a team in a fast-paced, event-driven environment
• Work independently with minimal direction
• Creative and innovative thinking
• High food presentation standards
• Passionate about food and enjoys cooking with a creative edge
• Possess a level of organisational skills
• Possess a thorough working knowledge of all applicable environmental health compliance, sanitation requirements, food preparation guidelines, safety standards, etc. pertaining to OVG Hospitality and venue services operations
• Basic Food Hygiene qualification and Allergen awareness
• COSHH Awareness training and knowledge of HACCP

Desirable

• Experience as a Commis Chef or Kitchen Assistant in a stadium, events arena, festival environment or equivalent fast-paced hospitality setting or volume-led environment.
• Industry knowledge from volume catering to fine dining/hospitality, although full training will be provided
• An understanding of ingredients and nutrition
• Level 2 or Level 3 qualification in Professional Cookery or Catering & Hospitality 

Our venue is for the fans, the artists, everyone! Attracting a diverse workforce which reflects our local community is what will make our venue the best music venue in the UK!

We understand that to continue positively disrupting the sports and live entertainment industry, we need a diverse team to help us do it. We also believe that inclusivity drives innovation, strengthens our people, improves our service, and raises our excellence.

We are committed to creating a great place to work amplifying voices from all different backgrounds. There is something for everyone at Co-op Live, come and get involved.

If you do require any additional support or reasonable adjustments to support your application, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure you have everything you need.

We will consider applications from all candidates who are able to demonstrate the required skills necessary to fulfil the role.

We recognise the importance of safeguarding, dependent on role you may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service Check, details of which will be shared with you at interview.

If successful in your application, you will be required to provide eligibility to work evidence in line with the ‘Eligibility to Work in the UK’ requirements.