Catering Counter Assistants and Train-Managers (& Assistant TMs) of Fine-Dining Services

Catering Counter Assistants and Train-Managers (& Assistant TMs) of Fine-Dining Services

Posted for The Watercress Line

Posted by Volunteer First

Register your interest

You will be redirected to the Volunteer First website to express your interest.

We invite you to join The Watercress Line Volunteers team – our wonderful community of volunteers – to get involved, and to start receiving the benefits of volunteering.

All you need are a few hours spare each month and in return we can offer you fun, interaction, free skills training, friendship and the satisfaction of helping families have a great day out.

N.B. The Watercress Line Heritage Railway Trust Ltd is a registered charity.

Team's business objective of Catering Counter team: "To have all Watercress Line catering outlets (at all stations and on all trains) open at all times to meet 100% of the Business Requirement for Catering, as defined and documented in the 2025 Service Calendar."

Team's business objective of Fine-Dining Train Managers team: "To achieve the Watercress Line’s experiences 2025 revenue targets by managing the Watercress Belle and Royal Wessex fine dining services as hosts and interface between the guests and the food service contractor."

Number of volunteers needed (01, Apr 2025):

50 in total:

• 5 at Alresford, 10 at Ropley.
• 10 in on-train Buffets and serving Ploughman's Lunches and Cream Tea.
• 15 as On-Train Managers of WCL Fine-Dining services (Sat evening & Sun lunch).
• 10 serving Sunday Lunch.

What skills do I need?

No previous skills required; full training to develop skill is provided free-of-charge & on-the-role. Any previous/relevant skill or experience is welcomed.

A Watercress Line volunteer in the Catering Counter Assistant role ideally is:

• People-focused
  
• Personable and welcoming
  
• Comfortable talking with and guiding clients
  
• A good team worker
  
• Comfortable with lone-working occasionally or in some catering outlets or roles
  
• Trustworthy
  
• Confident with money handling
  
• Willing to learn our computer till system ("EPOS")
  
• Able to resolve issues that arise calmly

Please note that:

• For our on-train catering services, volunteer cannot have any impairment of mobility.
• For our fine-dining evening service, volunteers must be comfortable working in evenings.

Training Opportunities (i.e. competences to gain) are provided FOC to volunteers. The following training courses are offered:

• Level 2 Food Hygiene Course for Catering
  
• Level 2 Food Allergy Awareness Training
• Customer Service & Hosting skills
• Induction to Catering Counter Work (Cash Handling & Use of EPOS Tills - N.B. parts of this course may also be same as Retailing team's "WCL EPOS" modules)
• Manual Handling in the Workplace
• Emergency First-Aid At Work