Become a cook, Join a community
Sign up to learn more about how you can earn a meaningful income from your cooking and connect to a network of talented cooks near you.
We’ll be in touch as soon as we can!
What is Hey! Food is Ready?
Hey! Food is Ready finds events for cooks in the UK looking for catering opportunities at private or corporate events. We encourage cooks from all around the world to join us. Whether it’s a traditional dish, a generational recipe or an authentic snack, we want to hear what you can bring to the table!
Our platform is all about bringing the food community together and we are proud to represent cooks from all backgrounds. We support immigrants, refugees, retirees, stay-at-home parents, professional caterers or anyone who loves cooking to highlight their food culture and share their story.
If this is something you are interested in then make sure to fill in the form - we can’t wait to hear from you!
Listen to cooks in the video as they share their experience about why they decided to join our community.
How to cook with us
Sign up
We encourage cooks from all backgrounds to apply. Express your interest through the form and we’ll be touch with you.
Learn
Find out how we can help you in a one-to-one call. Tell us your cooking story - we always love to hear new voices!
Ready to cook
Once we know a bit more about you, we will coordinate the event. You just need to cook and we’ll do the rest!
We will provide you with guidance on menus, pricing, food hygiene and certification to make sure you’re ready to go!
Prepare
Why cook with us
With us, you can make money from your passion. Choose your event and receive large orders from clients near you.
Meaningful Income
Join a community
Discover fellow foodies in our cooking community. Find out about recipes and stories from around the world… or even in your neighbourhood!
Share your food culture
Bring your voice to the table! Tell us about your background, what got you into cooking and your love for food.
Focus on the food
We take care of delivery, marketing, logistics and sales. We’ll help to promote you across our social media channels and share your story.
Be your own boss
You can decide which events you do. Let us know how much time you need to prepare, your order capacity and operating hours, and we can fit around you.
On our platform, you can decide which facilities you choose to cook. All kitchens must be registered for inspection by the local authority. You can find more details on this in the ‘food safety’ section.
Cook in your kitchen
“I consider this a dream job. A great opportunity for me to share my culture with my community.”
— Seidi, Portuguese Cuisines
“It gives me the opportunity to share my culture with the wider community in an authentic way.”
— Alosh, South Indian Cuisine
“Cooking and baking are my passion, I am honoured to bring Egyptian cuisine up here for everyone to taste and enjoy. ”
— Yasmin, Egyptian Cuisine
Food safety
Food hygiene is always our top priority, we require all of our cooks to…
Pass the industry standard food hygiene tests and hold a hygiene certificate of Level 2 or more.
Achieve a 4 or 5 food hygiene rating issued by their local authority or at least be ‘awaiting inspection’.
Gone through the Food Standards Agency’s food allergy and intolerance online training.
Be fully protected by product liability insurance.
We work hard to make sure our cooks supported throughout this entire process and can assist you if you require any further guidance. Please fill in the form above and we will get back to you soon!
FAQ
None at all! We work with event organisers to access the best opportunities for our cooks and you will be paid for the food you provide. If you require any further assistance, you can contact us at any time.
Is there a cost to be on your website?
You are more than welcome to join us! As a service, we provide additional opportunities for you and will market your meals across our channels with no additional costs.
What if I already do catering?
How does ordering work?
We work on an event-by-event basis. If we have an opportunity suitable for you, we will contact you by your preferred method (e.g. email, messaging). We will notify you in advance, so you have sufficient time to prepare your food.
Who can cook on Hey! Food is Ready?
We offer catering opportunities to cooks across the UK, from all backgrounds. Whether you’re passionate about cooking, an existing catering service or a professional chef, we would love to have you! Please be aware that you must be compliant with all legal requirements and go through our application process to be on our platform (see ‘food safety’ section). We will help you with this, so don’t worry if you are unsure about anything.
Once I start, can I take a break from cooking?
Absolutely! We are a flexible service - you have the freedom to work when you want. Just make sure to let us know so that we are aware of your availability. When you’re ready to return, we can help you to get back cooking!
What insurance do I need?
All cooks must have product liability insurance. This covers you if there are any issues with the food you serve. Insurance providers can offer cover from £1 million to £10 million. If you need to get this, we can provide you with all the relevant information.
How does delivery work?
You can either deliver the food or we can provide a courier service to collect this from you. We will let you know the arrangements of the event and coordinate it around this.
Ready to start cooking?
Fill the form and get started now - we will get in touch with you as soon as possible. Happy cooking :)