Find your place in the field of good food

Our goal is to connect good people with good food. We advertise sustainable food jobs and training opportunities to help jobseekers and employers find each other.

Roots to Work is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Job description

IMPORTANT: You must currently reside in the UK and hold valid UK work authorisation. We cannot sponsor visas.​

Role Overview​

East London Mushroom Collective is a gourmet mushroom farm at New Spitalfields Market in East London. We produce mushrooms for London-area restaurants using locally sourced substrates and a zero-emissions distribution system. 

For this role we are seeking someone to be involved in the practical tasks associated with mushroom cultivation. You will assist in all aspects of the growing, harvesting and packaging of fresh mushrooms.

This position requires a strong work ethic, physical stamina, the ability to safely work with machinery and the ability to spend long hours doing repetitive tasks. You should be highly motivated and self-directed with a desire for a highly physical role. Training will be provided for all aspects of this role. Preference will be given to those with a proven track record involving manual labour.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Dedicated and hard-working
• Capable of quickly learning and adapting 
• Able to grasp the importance of and manage multiple steps in a larger process
• Willing to work independently as well as part of a team when required

General Role Information (pay, hours, location)

• Interviews: Conducted on a rolling basis
• Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (35 hours per week)
• Compensation: £13.85 / hour (London Living Wage)
• Additional Availability: Occasional evening and weekend work available (but not required)
• Location: New Spitalfields Market (E10 5SQ) and nearby warehouse
• Trial Period: 3 months
• Training: Full training provided
• Work Authorisation: UK work authorisation required (we are unable to provide sponsorship)
• Parking: On-site parking available

Key Responsibilities

1. Substrate Preparation & Processing

• Hydration & Preparation of Substrates: Using machinery to hydrate and prepare substrates.
• Mixing & Bagging Substrates: Utilizing machinery to mix and bag substrates efficiently.
• Heavy Lifting: Handling bags and crates of substrates manually.

2. Equipment Operation & Maintenance

• Monitoring Equipment: Regular checks to ensure machines function correctly.
• Basic Maintenance: Performing minor repairs or adjustments to machinery.

3. Clean-Room Operations

• Inoculating Substrates: Introducing mushroom spawn into the substrate under sterile conditions.
• Maintaining Cleanliness: Ensuring high levels of hygiene in all processes to avoid contamination.

4. Growing Process

• Loading Grow Space: Moving substrate blocks into the grow rooms.
• Monitoring Growth Conditions: Checking incubation temperatures and the health of mycelium blocks.
• Managing Growing Space: Overseeing the environment to ensure optimal conditions for mushroom growth.

5. Harvesting & Post-Harvest Activities

• Harvesting Mushrooms: Collecting mushrooms at the right stage of maturity.
• Processing & Packaging: Preparing mushrooms for sale, including cleaning, weighing and packaging.
• Stock Management: Taking inventory and completing associated tasks.

6. Cleaning & Waste Management

• Maintaining Work Areas: Regular cleaning to sustain cleanliness and operational standards.
• Removing Spent Blocks: Clearing out used blocks and cleaning the grow space to prepare for the next cycle.

7. Record Keeping & Communication

• Data Entry: Updating stock levels and other relevant information in tracking systems.
• Team Coordination: Regularly sharing updates with the team.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Background working in physical, repetitive and fast-paced industries and environments - for example:

  • Commercial kitchens
  • Agriculture
  • Industrial
  • Warehouse
  • Assembly lines
  • Machine operation
• Experience working in growing
• Forklift operation​
• Equipment maintenance
• Driving licence
• Live locally
• Availability for evening and weekend work (preferred but not required)

Application information

To apply please submit the following:

An e-mail briefly answering the following questions:

• How has your previous work and experience prepared you to fulfil the key responsibilities of this role?
• Where do you live and how would you travel to work?
• When can you start?
• A current CV

Applications should be sent to mike@elmc.uk with the subject line Mushroom Growing Assistant.

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