Apprentice Chef

N Family Club; Guildford; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary £20,717

Performance bonus Up to £750

Holiday allowance Up to 35 days

Development fund £100 annual learning

Family-friendly leave

Childcare discount 40%

Loyalty rewards & referral schemes

Travel support

Socials & wellbeing

Job summary

N Family Club in Guildford, Surrey, is hiring an Apprentice Chef on a permanent full-time basis. You will support the Chef to prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for children, and help maintain high hygiene standards.

You will work toward your funded Level 3 Production Chef Apprenticeship, with paid time off to study, and receive a competitive benefits package including holiday allowance and staff development opportunities.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 2 or above in Food Preparation and Hygiene.
• Willingness to complete Level 3 during induction if not held.
• Passion for food creativity and working with children and families.

Responsibilities

• Support the Chef to prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for children.
• Assist with cooking fresh, nutritious meals daily.
• Ensure meals meet nutritional needs across ages and follow food safety guidelines.
• Support dietary needs for all ages.

Skills

Food safety awareness

Willingness to learn

Creativity in cooking

Fast service

Positive attitude

Customer service

Motivation and drive

Education

Food Preparation NVQ Level 2+

Job description

Apprentice Chef

Department: Apprenticeships

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Guildford, Surrey

Reporting To: Naomi Springer

Compensation: £20,717 / year

Description

We’re more than just a nursery group. We’re the UK’s most innovative early-years education provider.

At N Family Club, we dreamed of reimagining early years education. Becoming a place that fosters creativity, embraces a curriculum-led approach, and prepares children for the modern world. We’re proudly making our dream a reality – and we want you to be a part of it!

As an Apprentice Chef at N Family, you’ll be cooking up a storm every day – supporting our Chef to prepare breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for children, as well as a lunch and a smoothie for our hard-working nursery team. We’re looking for a creative person who’s genuinely interested in a career as a Chef – someone who’s a keen learner and interested in childhood nutrition. With your dedication and passion for learning, you’ll make your mark and help us become the most loved early years education group in the UK.

Your key responsibilities

• Work toward your funded Level 3 Production Chef Apprenticeship, including paid time off to study.
• Assist with cooking fresh, tasty, and nutritious meals for the children and team every day.
• Make sure each meal meets the nutritional needs of different age groups and follows all food safety and choking guidelines.
• Support the Chef to cater to different dietary needs for all ages.
• Support with preparing daily lunches and smoothies for the nursery team, catering to a variety of diets and preferences.
• Support the Chef to keep on top of kitchen paperwork and checks, including cleaning schedules and daily safety logs.
• Maintain the kitchen to a 5-star Food Hygiene standard.
• Build friendly, professional relationships with parents so they feel confident about the food their children eat.

Our Apprentice Chefs should have...

• A Food Preparation and Hygiene NVQ Level 2 or above (you’ll need to complete a Level 3 during induction if not already held).
• A willingness to adopt conscious practices within food and cooking, including recycling and creating as little food waste as possible.
• A passion for food creativity and a love for working with children and families.
• The ability to work quickly and effectively during busy service times.
• A positive, glass-half-full outlook.
• Bags of drive and motivation with a ‘make it happen’ attitude!
• A love for customer service.

The N Advantage package

• Competitive salary – £20,717 per annum
• Performance bonus – Up to £750 annually.
• Industry-leading holiday allowance – Up to 35 days, including a personal ‘Me’ day and Christmas closure.
• Development fund – £100 annual learning fund, plus paid N Academy training (level 3, EY Degrees, Forest School & more).
• Family-friendly – Enhanced parental/fostering/neonatal leave after 2 years.
• Childcare – 40% discount, plus 6 emergency days annually.

And that’s not all!

• Loyalty rewards – 5-year bonus: around-the-world trip + 2 bonus weeks off. 10-year bonus: “Out of this world” experience + 2 more weeks off!
• Referral scheme – Earn up to £1000 per successful hire.
• Amazing discounts – Save on groceries, shopping, fitness, and more.
• Travel support – Season ticket loans and cycle-to-work scheme.
• Socials & Wellbeing – Annual parties, team events, gym discounts, and online fitness.
• And much, much more!

Why N Guildford?

Set in a charming late-Victorian villa, our 73-place N Guildford nursery offers an inspiring blend of heritage and innovation, with six light-filled rooms and an adventure-ready garden.

Getting here is a breeze! We’re just a short walk from London Road station—and yes, there’s plenty of parking on site too.

Why N Family Club?

At N Family Club, we’re reimagining early years education – and we want you to be a part of it. We’re a certified Great Place to Work and one of the UK’s most innovative early years groups. With top salaries, unmatched benefits, and real career progression, we put our people first.