About the job

Job summary

House of Commons

The House of Commons is a unique and exciting place to work right at the heart of the UK's thriving democratic system. 

Behind the scenes, the House of Commons Service is made up of more than 3,000 employees who support and facilitate the smooth day to day running of the House. They provide professional services to Members of Parliament, their staff, and the wider parliamentary community.

Introduction 

Catering Services sits within the Customer Experience and Service Delivery team and are responsible for the efficient operation of the House of Commons catering facilities. Catering Services at the House of Commons promotes a culture that adheres to the highest ethical standards across all areas of our business. Our commitment to excellence in all we do, combined with a desire to understand, and fulfil our guests’ requirements translates into our customer experience.  

Job description

This is a great opportunity for a customer focused individual to join a thriving team within a busy bar environment, right in the heart of the Parliamentary community. We are all about embracing passion, energy, and teamwork to serve memorable moments for every one of our customers.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Bartender to provide an excellent guest drinking experience, to create classic and innovative drinks; to provide exceptional care and give a polished and professional service, exceeding our customers’ needs and expectations.

Some of the responsibilities for this role include:

• Interact with customers, assess customers’ needs and references, and take orders. Respond promptly to requests from customers in a polite and professional fashion, making recommendations and up-selling additional products with a positive suggestive sales approach when appropriate.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of beers, wines, and spirits. Demonstrate product knowledge by advising the customer/answering queries.
• Record all orders and customer payments accurately using the EPOS system. Balance the cash register at the start and close of each shift. Ensure cash handling procedures are followed and all transactions are carried out as set out in the Cash Handling Policy.
• Check customers’ IDs to ensure they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages. Attempt to limit problems related to customers' excessive drinking by following established procedures.

Person specification

To be successful in this role you will demonstrate:

• Experience in a hospitality venue, visitor attraction or other busy customer facing environment.
• Evidence of the ability to engage with a variety of people and adapt style and content to meet audience needs whilst upholding the values of equality, diversity, and inclusion, demonstrating an understanding of how personal behaviour affects others. 
• Experience of delivering an excellent standard of hospitality service within a customer facing catering role, demonstrating flexibility and the ability to respond to the ever-changing dynamics of the service environment and the needs of different groups of people. 
• Experience of delivering a high standard of service in line with the objectives of a hospitality business in a diverse environment of customers and other stakeholders, demonstrating a positive suggestive sales approach. 
• Ability to work successfully within a team demonstrating a flexible approach; understanding team goals and objectives; offering help to team members when requested and being proactive at quiet times. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £25,986, House of Commons contributes £7,016 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

• CV & Supporting Statement – If you would like to apply for this role, please submit your CV and covering letter with a 500 word limit, providing specific examples in your supporting statement to demonstrate how you meet the criteria listed in the job description.

More information on the role and the full criteria can be found in the Job Description. 

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.