Direct website bookings

Reliefchefs Ltd arranges your booking and personally matches the chef. The advertised hourly price already includes the £5 service fee per chef per hour before VAT. The hours, rates and total agreed on this website apply to this booking. Contact our team directly about matching, changes and shift records. Marketplace selection, bidding and in-app messaging apply only to marketplace bookings. For online permanent recruitment the placement fee is 10% of the annual salary offered plus VAT. The £799 deposit includes VAT and is credited against the VAT-inclusive placement fee. Our staff carry out the search using our chef database. The search period is 14 days from cleared payment.

Client Services Agreement

Relief Chefs UK 2026 2027

This agreement is made between Reliefchefs LTD trading as Relief Chefs UK and the Client identified in section 22. It governs marketplace bookings, emergency and temporary chef cover, self employed short term chefs, permanent job advertising and managed exclusive recruitment.

Recruiter

Reliefchefs LTD trading as Relief Chefs UK

Company number

14875154

Registered address

95 Highland Terrace, Uffculme, EX15 3EW

VAT number

GB452375002

Contact

info@reliefchefs.uk 01392 715474 www.reliefchefs.uk

Effective date

11 September 2026

1 Parties Status and Scope

1.1 Reliefchefs LTD, trading as Relief Chefs UK, is the Recruiter and platform operator. The customer registering, advertising, requesting introductions or making a booking is the Client.

1.2 These Terms govern all business to business use of the Relief Chefs UK website, application, marketplace and associated recruitment services. They cover emergency and temporary chef bookings, short term self employed chef engagements, permanent vacancy advertising and managed exclusive recruitment.

1.3 Depending on the Booking Confirmation, the Recruiter may act as an employment agency, employment business, marketplace intermediary or disclosed payment collection agent. The Booking Confirmation identifies the applicable model. These Terms do not override any mandatory law or artificially determine a worker’s legal or tax status.

1.4 The Client warrants that it acts wholly or mainly for business purposes and that every person using its account or accepting these Terms has authority to bind it.

2 Definitions

2.1 Booking means a confirmed request for one or more Candidates to provide temporary, emergency or short term services, including any extension or repeat booking.

2.2 Booking Confirmation means the platform record, email, invoice or other written confirmation specifying the Candidate, role, location, rate, hours, service model and any special conditions.

2.3 Candidate means a person whose identity, availability, profile, CV or services are made known, introduced, supplied or arranged by the Recruiter or through the Platform.

2.4 Client Group means the Client and every parent, subsidiary, sister company, associated company, franchisee, venue operator, management company or entity under common ownership or control.

2.5 Engagement means employment or use of a Candidate directly or indirectly, whether as employee, worker, contractor, self employed person, consultant, through a personal service company, umbrella, another agency, intermediary or member of the Client Group.

2.6 Introduction means any disclosure of a Candidate’s identity or details, profile access, message, interview, trial, Booking, referral or other event that causes the Client to become aware of the Candidate for work or recruitment purposes.

2.7 Off Platform Engagement means any Booking, extension, rebooking, paid trial, shift or Engagement arranged or carried out outside the Platform or without the Recruiter’s written confirmation after an Introduction.

2.8 Platform means the Relief Chefs UK marketplace, website, application, messaging, booking and payment system.

2.9 Remuneration means gross annual basic salary plus guaranteed allowances, guaranteed bonuses and guaranteed taxable benefits, or a reasonable annual equivalent of hourly, daily, weekly or monthly remuneration.

2.10 Service Fee means the Recruiter’s marketplace fee of £5 plus VAT for every hour worked by each Candidate, unless a different fee is confirmed in writing.

3 Acceptance and Contract Formation

3.1 The Client accepts these Terms by ticking an acceptance box, signing electronically or by hand, registering or using an account, posting a vacancy, requesting or receiving Candidate information, sending a message, arranging an interview or trial, making a Booking, paying an invoice or Engaging a Candidate, whichever occurs first.

3.2 Electronic acceptance, platform logs, email, card payment, booking records, messages and audit records may evidence the contract and instructions between the parties.

3.3 Client purchase orders, portal terms or other documents do not amend or override these Terms unless an authorised director of the Recruiter expressly agrees in writing. Booking Confirmations prevail only for the specific commercial details they expressly vary.

4 Platform Access and Account Security

4.1 Platform registration and access are free unless the Client selects a paid service. The Recruiter may approve, reject, suspend or close an account for legitimate business, payment, safety, fraud, compliance or misuse concerns.

4.2 The Client must provide accurate legal, billing, venue and contact information, keep credentials secure, restrict access to authorised staff and immediately report unauthorised access. Activity through the Client account is treated as authorised unless the Client promptly proves otherwise.

4.3 The Client must not scrape, copy, download in bulk, sell, disclose or use Candidate data to build a competing database, solicit Candidates for another agency, or enable any third party to access the Platform.

4.4 The Recruiter may use reasonable technical controls, masked details and staged disclosure to protect Candidate privacy and prevent circumvention.

4.5 The Client acknowledges that the Platform is operated and supervised by the Recruiter as the agency behind the marketplace. To operate the service, protect Candidates, verify charges, investigate disputes and prevent fraud or circumvention, the Recruiter may access, record and review Platform communications, rate negotiations, Bookings, transactions, timesheets, ratings and related activity, in accordance with its privacy notice and applicable law.

5 Marketplace Temporary and Emergency Bookings

5.1 The Platform may be used to request emergency chefs, temporary chefs and self employed chefs for genuine short term assignments. Availability is not guaranteed until the Booking is confirmed and the required payment has cleared.

5.2 Every Booking has a minimum charge of 8 hours per Candidate per shift, even where the Client uses or releases the Candidate for fewer than 8 hours, unless the Recruiter expressly confirms a different minimum in the Booking Confirmation. The Client must pay the agreed Candidate rate and the Service Fee. The Service Fee is charged for every hour worked by every Candidate and for the applicable minimum hours.

5.3 Each Candidate may propose and negotiate their hourly rate with the Client through the Platform. All offers, counteroffers and acceptance must remain visible and recorded on the Platform. A rate becomes binding only when accepted through the Platform and included in the Booking Confirmation. The Client must not negotiate, agree or pay a different rate privately or outside the Platform.

5.4 The Client must provide accurate duties, skills, location, start and finish times, expected duration, facilities, health and safety risks, dress requirements, accommodation terms and any legal or professional requirements before confirmation.

5.5 The Client remains responsible for day to day supervision, a safe workplace, site induction, working time compliance and checking that the Candidate is suitable for the Client’s particular role. The Recruiter will carry out only the checks it expressly confirms in writing.

6 Payment Before Every Shift

6.1 Payment in full is a condition of every Booking. The Client must ensure cleared funds are received before any Candidate starts any shift. Payment must be made by debit or credit card through the Platform or by paying the Recruiter’s invoice in full on the same day it is issued and before the start time.

6.2 The amount payable in advance is the estimated Candidate remuneration or booking charge, the Service Fee, VAT where applicable and any agreed expenses, accommodation or travel costs shown in the Booking Confirmation.

6.3 The Recruiter is not required to release final Candidate details, confirm attendance or permit a shift to begin until cleared payment is received. If payment has not cleared, the Recruiter may withhold, suspend or cancel the Booking without liability for resulting cover, operational or trading losses.

6.4 Any extension, extra shift or additional Candidate must be requested and confirmed through the Platform. The additional estimated amount must be paid before the extension or additional shift begins. Unplanned extra hours must be authorised through the Platform as soon as practicable and are invoiced immediately for same day payment.

6.5 Actual hours are reconciled against verified time records. Any underpayment is due immediately on invoice. Any genuine overpayment for unworked hours will be credited or refunded within a reasonable time after verification, subject to cancellation charges and sums properly due.

6.6 A card authorisation, failed payment, reversal or chargeback does not extinguish the Client’s debt. The Client must not initiate a chargeback for a genuine contractual dispute without first notifying the Recruiter and allowing a reasonable opportunity to investigate.

6.7 Where a Booking Confirmation expressly states that the Candidate contracts directly with the Client and the Recruiter collects Candidate remuneration as disclosed payment agent, payment to the Recruiter discharges the Client’s corresponding payment obligation only when cleared. The Recruiter’s Service Fee remains a separate supply. The Client must obtain its own tax and accounting advice; these Terms do not determine turnover, VAT, employment status or payroll treatment.

7 Hours Records Performance and Reviews

7.1 The Client must use or approve the Platform timesheet, clock in system or other agreed record. It must report any genuine hours dispute with evidence within 2 business days after the shift. Hours recorded or approved by an authorised Client representative are binding except for manifest error or fraud.

7.2 Performance concerns, non attendance, misconduct or safety issues must be reported promptly through the Platform. Dissatisfaction does not remove liability for hours actually worked.

7.3 Nothing in these Terms authorises the Recruiter to withhold pay lawfully due to a Candidate merely because the Client has not paid or approved a timesheet.

7.4 After every completed Booking or assignment, the Client must review each Candidate through the Platform within 48 hours. The review must include a score from 1 to 5 stars and a written comment giving useful feedback. The Client must use its best judgement and make a fair assessment based on the Candidate’s actual work.

7.5 A review must be honest, specific and based on first hand experience. It must not be false, misleading, abusive, defamatory, discriminatory, retaliatory, irrelevant or disclose unnecessary personal, health or confidential information. The Client must not manipulate ratings or offer any benefit in return for a particular score.

7.6 The Recruiter may display, verify, moderate, edit for privacy, temporarily hide or remove a review where reasonably necessary to comply with law, investigate a complaint, protect safety or preserve the integrity of the rating system. The affected Candidate may be allowed to respond or request a review. The Recruiter does not promise to publish every comment.

7.7 Ratings may affect Candidate visibility, marketplace scores and future booking decisions. The Recruiter may remind the Client to complete a review and may restrict new Bookings or account functions while required reviews remain outstanding. A rating does not replace the Client’s duty to report serious performance, safeguarding or safety concerns immediately.

8 Cancellations No Shows and Refunds

8.1 A Booking Confirmation may specify a cancellation period. If none is stated, the Client must give at least 48 hours notice through the Platform before the scheduled start.

8.2 For late cancellation, non access to the site, material reduction of agreed hours or sending a Candidate home early without established serious misconduct, the Client must pay the committed minimum hours and any reasonable non recoverable travel, accommodation or card costs, to the extent lawful and reasonable.

8.3 If a Candidate does not attend and the Recruiter cannot provide a replacement acceptable to the Client, the Recruiter will refund or credit amounts collected for the unworked Booking. This is the Client’s primary remedy for non attendance, without excluding liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

9 Permanent Vacancy Advertising

9.1 The Client may advertise a full time permanent vacancy on the Platform for £199 plus VAT per vacancy for each 30 day advertising period. Payment is due in advance. A listing renews only where the Client has expressly selected or agreed renewal.

9.2 The advertising service provides publication and access to applications only. It does not guarantee applications, interviews, suitability, acceptance, commencement, retention or placement.

9.3 The Client is responsible for the accuracy and legality of the advertisement, pay information, working hours and selection process. The Recruiter may edit formatting, refuse unlawful or misleading content and remove expired, filled or non compliant advertisements.

9.4 Applications and initial communications must remain through the Platform. Direct interview communication is permitted after the interview has been arranged and recorded through the Platform, but any offer, acceptance and start date must be recorded through the Platform.

9.5 The £199 advertising fee does not include managed search, shortlisting, referencing, a replacement service or a placement guarantee. No success fee applies to a self service advertising response unless the Client separately requests or uses managed recruitment services or circumvents a Candidate introduced through another Recruiter service.

10 Managed Exclusive Recruitment

10.1 The Client may instruct the Recruiter on a managed exclusive recruitment campaign by paying a £799 including VAT Recruitment Deposit in advance. Subject to the 14-day refund option in clause 10.9, the Recruitment Deposit becomes non refundable once campaign work begins and pays for campaign setup, advertising, sourcing and dedicated recruitment work. It is not a guarantee that a suitable Candidate will accept or remain in the role.

10.2 The instruction is exclusive for an initial 14 day period from cleared payment and may be extended only by written agreement with the Client. During exclusivity the Client must not instruct another recruiter, advertise independently, approach candidates directly or accept applications outside the agreed process for the same or substantially similar role without the Recruiter’s written consent.

10.3 The Client authorises the Recruiter to identify the Client and venue, use supplied brand materials and publish the role through appropriate advertising, social and recruitment channels. The Client warrants that it owns or is authorised to provide those materials and may withdraw specific brand use prospectively by written notice, subject to live campaign commitments.

10.4 If the Client or any member of the Client Group Engages a Candidate introduced or sourced during the campaign, or fills the instructed role during the exclusive period with a person first identified during that campaign, the success fee is 10% of Remuneration plus VAT.

10.5 The £799 VAT-inclusive Recruitment Deposit is credited once against the VAT-inclusive success fee. On an offered annual salary of £35,000, the success fee is £3,500 plus £700 VAT, totalling £4,200. After the £799 deposit, the outstanding balance is £3,401 including VAT.

10.6 The success fee is earned when the Candidate accepts an offer or begins the Engagement, whichever occurs first. Withdrawal of an accepted offer, a later resignation, dismissal, change of title or reduction of hours does not cancel the fee, subject to the replacement service below.

10.7 For a success fee paid in full and on time, the Recruiter provides one free replacement search if the Engagement ends within 6 months because the Candidate resigns or is dismissed for genuine performance or capability reasons. The Client must notify the Recruiter within 5 business days and allow a reasonable replacement search. No cash refund or rebate is provided.

10.8 The replacement service does not apply where the role, location, pay, hours or material conditions changed; the role became redundant; the Client ceased trading; conditions were unlawful, unsafe or misleading; an invoice was late; or the Candidate is re engaged by the Client Group.

10.9 For direct website permanent chef searches, if a suitable chef has not been found within 14 days of cleared payment, the Client may choose a full refund of the £799 VAT-inclusive Recruitment Deposit or agree a search extension in writing with the Recruiter. Any extension must state the new search deadline. This deposit refund option applies even where campaign work has begun and is separate from the replacement service following a placement.

11 Communication Through the Platform

11.1 All enquiries, rate discussions, negotiations, Bookings, rebookings, extensions, cancellations, interviews, trials, offers, acceptances and start dates involving a Candidate must be communicated and recorded through the Platform or expressly authorised Relief Chefs UK channels.

11.2 Once a Booking or interview is confirmed, direct communication is permitted for immediate operational matters such as arrival, directions, duties, rotas and emergencies. It must not be used to negotiate or arrange work, rates, payment, extensions or a future Engagement outside the Platform.

11.3 The Client must not ask or encourage a Candidate to conceal hours, use a different name or entity, invoice the Client directly, move to another agency, cancel a Platform Booking and rebook privately, or otherwise avoid the Recruiter’s fee or records.

11.4 The Client must notify the Recruiter within 2 business days of any direct contact, offer, approach or Engagement involving an introduced Candidate and provide requested evidence of start date, pay and contractual terms, with irrelevant personal information lawfully redacted.

11.5 The Client must not use disappearing messages, private payment links, personal accounts or any other method intended to prevent the Recruiter from seeing a rate negotiation, Booking, extension, payment, offer or Engagement. Operational communications permitted by clause 11.2 must be accurately reflected on the Platform where they change the Booking.

12 Candidate Protection and Non Circumvention

12.1 Candidate information is confidential and supplied only for the vacancy or Booking for which it was provided. The Client must not disclose it outside the Client Group or refer the Candidate to another person without written consent.

12.2 For 12 months after the latest Introduction, interview, Platform contact, Booking or shift, the Client must not make an Off Platform Engagement or facilitate one through the Client Group, another agency, intermediary or third party. For a Temporary Worker, this clause is subject to all mandatory restrictions and options under the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003.

12.3 If the Client makes or facilitates an Off Platform Engagement in breach of these Terms, it must pay a contractual introduction charge of £5,000 plus VAT for each affected Candidate. The parties agree that this charge protects the Recruiter’s legitimate interest in its candidate network, vetting, payment protection, technology, confidential data and lost service income, and is intended as the agreed commercial price of an unauthorised off Platform Engagement rather than a punishment.

12.4 The £5,000 charge does not apply in addition to a higher permanent placement or lawful transfer fee for the same Engagement. The Recruiter may claim the higher applicable amount, but will not recover twice for the same loss or event. If the £5,000 charge is held unenforceable, the Recruiter may recover its lawful placement or transfer fee and proven losses, costs and other remedies.

12.5 Where the law requires a transfer fee option for a Temporary Worker, the Client will be offered the choice of paying the compliant transfer fee or completing an Extended Period of Hire. Unless otherwise confirmed in writing, the proposed Extended Period of Hire is 8 continuous weeks on terms no less favourable than before, subject to availability and mandatory law.

12.6 Any transfer fee and relevant period will be applied only as permitted by the Conduct Regulations, including the statutory rules concerning the period after an assignment and breaks between assignments. Nothing in these Terms restricts a Candidate’s lawful freedom to work or requires the Candidate to pay a fee.

13 Trials

13.1 Every productive trial must be paid at the rate confirmed through the Platform and must be booked and prepaid before it begins. The Client must not describe productive work as an unpaid assessment.

13.2 The Client must record the trial outcome promptly. Any employment offer following a trial is subject to the applicable advertising or managed recruitment service and these Terms.

14 Client Warranties and Compliance

14.1 The Client will comply with recruitment legislation, the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 where applicable, working time, equality, immigration, tax, data protection and health and safety law. It will provide information reasonably required for compliance, including comparable terms for agency worker rights where applicable.

14.2 The Client is responsible for final role specific checks, licences and safeguarding requirements unless the Recruiter expressly agrees to perform a stated check. An Enhanced DBS status must not be treated as current or suitable without verification appropriate to the role.

14.3 The Client must not require unlawful discrimination, misrepresent conditions, expose a Candidate to undisclosed hazards or ask a Candidate to perform materially different duties without agreement.

14.4 For self employed arrangements, the parties must operate consistently with the actual facts. The Client must not impose terms inconsistent with the confirmed model without notifying the Recruiter. If circumstances indicate employment, worker, payroll, off payroll or other tax obligations, the parties will cooperate to implement a lawful arrangement and applicable charges may be adjusted.

15 Data Protection and Confidentiality

15.1 Each party acts as an independent controller for personal data it processes for its own recruitment purposes unless otherwise agreed. Each party must comply with UK data protection law, keep data secure and use it only for legitimate recruitment, booking, compliance and employment purposes.

15.2 The Client must not retain unsuccessful Candidate data longer than necessary, must respect access restrictions and must promptly report any unauthorised disclosure, loss or suspected breach affecting Platform or Candidate data.

15.3 Commercial rates, Candidate information, platform functionality and non public business information are confidential. This duty survives termination.

16 Invoices Late Payment and Taxes

16.1 Marketplace Bookings are prepaid under clause 6. Permanent advertising and managed recruitment retainers are prepaid. Success fees and other invoices are due within 7 calendar days unless the invoice states an earlier due date.

16.2 A genuine invoice dispute must be raised in writing within 5 business days, identifying the amount and evidence. The undisputed balance remains payable. The Client may not deduct or set off sums except where required by law or agreed in writing.

16.3 For qualifying business debts, the Recruiter reserves its rights under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, including statutory interest, fixed compensation and reasonable recovery costs. Where it does not apply, overdue sums carry interest at 4% per year above the Bank of England base rate, accruing daily, to the extent enforceable.

16.4 Prices exclude VAT unless expressly stated. Each party is responsible for its own taxes. The Recruiter may correct an invoice where VAT or another mandatory charge was applied incorrectly, subject to law.

17 Platform Availability and Changes

17.1 The Recruiter may maintain, update or temporarily suspend the Platform. It does not guarantee uninterrupted availability, a particular Candidate, response time, number of applicants or successful outcome.

17.2 The Recruiter may change these Terms prospectively by giving reasonable notice through the Platform or email. A material fee change will not alter a Booking already confirmed unless required by law or agreed. Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance for future services.

18 Liability and Insurance

18.1 The Recruiter will exercise reasonable care but does not guarantee a Candidate’s performance, conduct, availability, continued service, qualifications beyond checks expressly confirmed, or suitability for the Client’s particular operation.

18.2 Nothing limits liability for fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, death or personal injury caused by negligence, or any liability that cannot lawfully be limited.

18.3 Subject to clause 18.2, neither party is liable for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profit, revenue, business, reputation or anticipated savings. The Recruiter is not liable for loss caused by inaccurate Client information, unsafe conditions, Client supervision, non payment, unauthorised direct arrangements or matters outside reasonable control.

18.4 Subject to clause 18.2, the Recruiter’s total aggregate liability arising from a particular Booking or recruitment instruction is limited to the Recruiter’s net fees paid by the Client for that Booking or instruction during the preceding 6 months. This limitation does not reduce amounts the Recruiter must return for services not supplied.

18.5 The Client will maintain appropriate employer, public and other business insurance required for its operation and will provide evidence on reasonable request.

19 Suspension and Termination

19.1 The Recruiter may suspend Candidate access, withhold confirmation or terminate services immediately for non payment, chargeback, attempted circumvention, unlawful conduct, safety concerns, data misuse, insolvency, fraud or serious or repeated breach.

19.2 Termination does not affect accrued charges, confirmed Bookings, payment obligations, confidentiality, data protection, transfer rights, non circumvention, audit rights or clauses intended to survive.

20 Records Audit and Evidence

20.1 The Recruiter may retain platform logs, booking records, messages, timesheets, invoices, call notes and written confirmations in accordance with its retention policies and applicable law. Those records may be used as evidence, subject to ordinary rules of evidence.

20.2 Where the Recruiter reasonably suspects an Off Platform Engagement or fee avoidance, the Client must provide proportionate records necessary to verify hours, dates and Remuneration, including relevant rotas, invoices, payroll summaries or contracts with irrelevant personal data redacted. This right must be exercised reasonably and subject to data protection law.

21 General

21.1 Neither party may assign the agreement without the other’s consent, except that the Recruiter may assign it to a group company or purchaser of the relevant business on written notice.

21.2 If a provision is invalid or unenforceable, it will be severed or read down to the minimum extent necessary and the remaining provisions continue. A delay in enforcement is not a waiver.

21.3 These Terms, the applicable Booking Confirmation and any expressly agreed written variation form the entire agreement for the relevant service. No third party may enforce them under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 unless expressly stated.

21.4 Formal notices may be sent to an email address used in the business relationship or the registered or principal business address. Email is treated as received during normal business hours unless a delivery failure is received.

21.5 These Terms and all non contractual obligations are governed by the law of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction, subject to any mandatory rule.

22 Client Acceptance

By signing below, ticking the online acceptance box or using the services, the Client confirms that it has read, understood and accepted these Terms, including the 8 hour minimum Booking, prepayment before every shift, the £5 hourly Service Fee, Platform only rate negotiations and communications, mandatory Candidate reviews, permanent advertising fees, exclusive recruitment charges and Candidate non circumvention provisions.

Company legal name

Company number

Registered or trading address

Authorised signatory

Position and authority

Signature

Date

Private dining at home

Your booking is with Reliefchefs Ltd, company 14875154, 95 Highland Terrace, Uffculme, EX15 3EW. Our team personally matches a private chef for the dates, guest count and times you select. We will contact you using the details you provide to arrange the service.

For 8–20 guests the chef fee starts at £839 including VAT per chef per day, for up to 8 hours. You pay the total shown at checkout. Parties above 20 guests receive an individual quote before payment. Bespoke menu development and a full chef briefing cost £359 including VAT per menu when selected. Ingredients and any accommodation we arrange are quoted separately for your approval before an invoice is raised.

Please tell us about allergies, dietary requirements and kitchen facilities. To request a change, cancel, or report a problem, contact info@reliefchefs.co.uk or 01392 715474. If we cannot supply your booked service we will contact you and refund the amount paid for the service we cannot provide. Your statutory rights apply.