Location: Polhill Garden Centre, Kent Job Type: Full-time (including weekends on a rota basis)

About Us

At Polhill Garden Centre, we’re proud to be a family-owned business with over 60 years of experience inspiring people to enjoy gardening. Our team shares a passion for great customer service, quality plants and working together in a supportive and friendly environment.

Novell’s Restaurant is an integral part of the Polhill experience, offering freshly prepared food in a welcoming, high-volume setting. We are now looking for an experienced and motivated Head Chef to lead our kitchen team and drive standards across food quality, compliance and commercial performance.

The Role

As Head Chef, you will take full ownership of the day-to-day kitchen operations at Novell’s Restaurant. You will lead, train and motivate the kitchen team while ensuring excellent food standards, strong hygiene compliance and commercially successful menus.

This is a hands-on leadership role combining food production with administration, planning and people management.

Key Responsibilities

Kitchen & Service Standards

• Ensure consistently high standards of food quality, presentation and service
• Maintain a clean, safe and well-organised kitchen environment
• Minimise food waste and ensure cost-effective portion control

Team Leadership & Training

• Plan kitchen staffing levels to meet business demands
• Lead, train and develop the kitchen team to a high standard
• Ensure all staff complete inductions, mandatory training and ongoing development
• Promote a positive, professional and supportive working culture

Food Safety & Compliance

• Maintain full compliance with HACCP, food safety and health & hygiene legislation
• Oversee daily checks, records and documentation including temperature logs and cleaning schedules
• Ensure allergen controls and due diligence procedures are followed at all times
• Build and maintain positive relationships with Environmental Health Officers

Menu Development & Costing

• Develop, review and evolve menus in line with seasonal availability and customer expectations
• Cost all menus and recipes to ensure profitability
• Maintain accurate allergen information and menu consistency
• Work collaboratively with management on new menu ideas and changes

Stock & Ordering

• Order from approved suppliers and manage stock levels effectively
• Ensure quality, rotation and freshness of all ingredients
• Plan for seasonal fluctuations and peak trading periods

Administration & Commercial Control

• Complete all required kitchen documentation accurately and on time
• Monitor wastage, breakages and margins
• Support catering events and promotions when required

About You

You will be a confident, organised and commercially aware Head Chef with strong leadership skills and a passion for quality food and teamwork.

Essential skills & experience:

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or Senior Kitchen Leader
• Strong knowledge of food safety, HACCP and allergen management
• Experience managing teams, rotas and training
• Ability to work in a fast paced, customer focused environment
• Excellent organisation, communication and problem solving skills

Desirable:

• Experience in a high volume restaurant or café environment
• Menu development and costing experience
• Familiarity with seasonal and fresh food menus

What We Offer

• A stable, full time role within a well established family business
• Supportive management and a collaborative working environment
• Opportunity to shape and develop the food offer at Novell’s Restaurant
• Staff benefits including employee discounts
• A role with real responsibility and autonomy

How to Apply

If you’re an experienced Head Chef looking for a rewarding role in a friendly and professional environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply via Indeed with your CV and a brief covering statement outlining your suitability for the role.

About Us

Polhill Garden Centre is a thriving retail destination with a growing marketing function supporting three locations: Polhill Garden Centre, Birchen Grove Garden Centre and Bellr. We are looking for a creative and proactive Marketing Executive to help deliver high‑quality marketing across digital, print and in‑store channels.

This is a hands‑on role ideal for someone who enjoys variety, is confident producing content, and wants to work in a fast‑moving retail environment.

The Role

As our Marketing Executive, you will support the day‑to‑day delivery of marketing activity across all centres and brands. You’ll work closely with the Marketing Manager and wider teams to ensure campaigns, materials and content are accurate, engaging and aligned with brand guidelines.

Key Responsibilities

In‑store & Print Marketing

• Produce in‑store POS materials and ensure brand consistency
• Support and train staff on using templates
• Maintain stock of magazines, leaflets and other printed materials
• Occasionally support merchandising on the shop floor
• Update promotional TV screens across the centre

Websites & SEO

• Maintain product listings across Polhill, Birchen Grove and Bellr websites
• Support seasonal campaign updates
• Write weekly SEO‑friendly blog content
• Assist with link‑building and outreach PR activity

Social Media & Ecommerce

• Manage Bellr’s social media channels with a monthly content plan
• Create content including photography, videography and basic design
• Confidently appear on camera, including live streams
• Support ecommerce marketing and seasonal promotions
• Develop relationships with influencers and micro‑influencers

Campaigns, Events & Collaboration

• Assist with digital and print campaigns
• Work with departments and centre partners on marketing needs
• Support restaurant marketing campaigns
• Work closely with the Events Manager on promotion and event content
• Capture event photos/video and assist with press releases

General Marketing Support

• Bring fresh ideas to the wider marketing team
• Assist in maintaining the Polhill Plus members app
• Support wider content production as needed

Weekend Support

Some weekend work will be required for events and content creation. Time off in lieu will be provided.

About You

• Degree in Marketing, Design or related field (preferred)
• Previous marketing experience covering digital and offline channels
• Strong written skills with understanding of SEO
• Confident using websites and content management systems
• Able to produce basic visual content following brand guidelines
• Comfortable working cross‑departmentally
• Highly organised, flexible and hands‑on
• Interest in gardening, home décor or cooking is a bonus

Why Join Us?

• Creative, varied and hands‑on marketing role
• Opportunity to work across multiple brands and channels
• Supportive team environment with room to grow
• Involvement in exciting events, seasonal campaigns and digital projects

How to Apply

If you’re passionate about marketing and excited to work in a dynamic retail environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today by emailing your CV and a brief cover note to jobs@polhillcentre.co.uk

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: Up to £30,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking

Work Location: In person

Salary: Up to £30,000 per year
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00am–5:00pm
Location: Polhill Garden Centre (in person) Contract: Permanent, Full-time

Join the Polhill Family

For over 60 years, Polhill Garden Centre has grown as a family-run business rooted in passion, teamwork, and high-quality customer service. We’re proud of our history, excited about our future, and committed to building a team that shares our enthusiasm and values.

If you’re friendly, positive, and great with hands-on work, you could be the perfect fit for us.

A Stand-Alone Role for a Self-Starter

You will have guidance from your reporting manager and access to support when needed, but this is very much an independent role. You will be responsible for planning, organising, prioritising, and managing your own workload and maintenance projects across the site.

We’re looking for someone confident, proactive, and capable of working autonomously day-to-day.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Taking ownership of general maintenance and repair tasks across the centre
• Maintaining outside areas, including blow-vac duties
• Completing basic carpentry, plumbing, painting, and decorating
• Carrying out routine checks on fixtures, fittings, and equipment
• Responding quickly to maintenance requests from across the business
• Assisting departments with ad-hoc tasks where needed
• Liaising with and supervising external contractors

What We’re Looking For

• Practical, adaptable, hands-on approach
• Previous maintenance experience (preferred but not essential)
• Ability to work independently with strong self-management
• Good communicator with a professional and approachable attitude
• Energetic, self-motivated, and reliable
• Able to manage several tasks at once while maintaining high standards
• Team player with flexibility when the business requires it

What We Offer

• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• Supportive, friendly working environment
• A role where your contribution genuinely makes a difference

At Polhill Garden Centre, we’re proud to be a family-owned business with over 60 years of experience inspiring people to enjoy gardening. Our team shares a passion for great customer service, quality plants and working together in a supportive and friendly environment.

We are looking for enthusiastic Temporary Plant Area Assistants to join us during our busy gardening season. This is a great opportunity for anyone who enjoys working outdoors, has an interest in plants and gardening, and loves helping customers.

About the Role

You will play an important role in supporting our Plant Area team, ensuring our indoor and outdoor plant areas are well presented and our customers receive outstanding service.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing excellent customer service and maximising sales
• Advising customers on indoor and outdoor plants and gardening needs
• Selling and caring for a wide range of plants
• Unpacking, watering and displaying stock attractively
• Maintaining plant health and presentation standards
• Keeping the department clean, tidy and safe
• Collecting trolleys from customer car parks
• Following health and safety procedures at all times

Working Pattern

The role is offered on a temporary basis from mid-March 2026 until the end of September 2026. A range of working patterns are available, including weekday and weekend shifts.

Position 1: Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays and alternate Saturdays and Sundays

Position 2: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and alternate Saturdays and Sundays

Position 3: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays

Position 4: Sundays

Weekdays and Saturdays: 8.45am – 5.45pm Sundays: 10.00am – 5.00pm

About You

• Previous retail experience and basic horticultural knowledge preferred
• Strong interest in gardening and willingness to learn
• Friendly, approachable and customer-focused
• Energetic, reliable and flexible
• Ability to work well in a team and follow instructions

What We Offer

• Up to 25% staff discount
• Uniform provided
• Pension scheme
• Sociable working hours
• Full training provided
• Free on-site parking

If you’re enthusiastic, enjoy working with plants and people, and would like to be part of a supportive and experienced team, we’d love to hear from you.