Assistant Chef

Busy Bees Nurseries; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Professional development

Hive discounts

28 days holiday

Birthday off

Childcare discount

Family leave bonus

Peppy menopause support

Salary Finance

EAP & MH support

Cycle to Work

Cushon pension

Private Medical Insurance

Job summary

Busy Bees Nurseries is seeking an Assistant Chef to join our nursery kitchen team in Basingstoke Hatch Warren. You will prepare healthy meals for children and support the Chef with kitchen operations, food safety, and stock management, ensuring meals meet dietary needs in an early years setting.

You will contribute to a nurturing environment, learn the Busy Bees approach to nutrition, and benefit from staff lunches and onsite facilities.

Qualifications

• Prepare healthy meals meeting dietary requirements for children.
• Support the Chef in kitchen operations and food safety standards.
• Maintain kitchen inventory and assist with ordering and stock management.
• Assist in cleaning and maintenance of kitchen equipment.

Responsibilities

• Prepare healthy, nutritious meals that meet dietary requirements for children.
• Support the Chef in overseeing kitchen operations and maintaining food safety and hygiene standards.
• Ensure kitchen inventory is well-maintained and assist with ordering and stock management.
• Support meal preparation and assist in the cleaning and maintenance of kitchen equipment.

Skills

Leadership in early years settings

Mentoring

Problem solving

Job description

Join Our Team at Busy Bees – Leading Nursery Group in the UK

Are you passionate about cooking and providing nutritious meals for young children? As an Assistant Chef at Busy Bees, you’ll be a key part of our kitchen team, preparing healthy meals that support children's growth and development. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a nurturing environment where you will contribute to the wellbeing of children while gaining valuable experience in catering within the early years sector.

About Us

Busy Bees is the UK's leading nursery group, with nearly 400 nurseries across the UK and more overseas. We are dedicated to giving every child the best start in life and are proud to have won awards for our workplace culture. At Busy Bees, we ensure that every member of our team feels heard, valued, and nurtured.

Why Work at Busy Bees?

We offer a supportive environment that empowers you to create engaging, educational spaces where children can thrive. As part of our team, you’ll be introduced to our unique Bee Curious curriculum, designed to foster curiosity and confidence in young learners.

Our Charitable Commitment

Through our partnership with BBC Children in Need, we offer fantastic opportunities for community involvement and fundraising to support children's lives.

About Our Nursery

Basingstoke Hatch Warren, rated Good by Ofsted, has a capacity of 100 children and is set across two converted barns in a quiet cul-de-sac. One building is dedicated to under 2s, while the other caters to 2-3s and 3-5s. Located in an affluent area of Basingstoke, we have strong connections with three good infant schools within walking distance. The nursery is conveniently situated near the M3, with bus stops just a five-minute walk away, although accessing certain routes may require two buses. We offer free parking, a complimentary lunch for staff, and a staff room stocked with teas, coffees, and snacks, creating a supportive environment for our team.

Busy Bees Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Ongoing professional development and career progression
• Our ‘Hive’ benefits and wellbeing hub, with discounts across a huge range of retailers
• Up to 28 days holiday per year (including bank holidays)
• Your birthday off – it’s our gift to you!
• 25% childcare discount
• Enhanced family leave and return to work bonus
• Menopause support through Peppy
• Financial support through Salary Finance
• Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health First Aiders
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Easy access to your workplace pension through Cushon
• Discounted Private Medical Insurance (PMI)

But wait, there’s more! You'll also enjoy access to our Benefits and Wellbeing platform, Hive - offering huge array huge of retail discounts helping your money to go further, along with a Wellbeing Hub featuring resources to support your physical and mental health. A Celebrating You section showcasing the ways we recognise and reward our valued team members. Plus, a dedicated Grow with Us area sharing the exciting development opportunities and training designed to support you to thrive and grow at Busy Bees.

About Our Nursery

Basingstoke Hatch Warren, rated Good by Ofsted, has a capacity of 100 children and is set across two converted barns in a quiet cul-de-sac. One building is dedicated to under 2s, while the other caters to 2-3s and 3-5s. Located in an affluent area of Basingstoke, we have strong connections with three good infant schools within walking distance. The nursery is conveniently situated near the M3, with bus stops just a five-minute walk away, although accessing certain routes may require two buses. We offer free parking, a complimentary lunch for staff, and a staff room stocked with teas, coffees, and snacks, creating a supportive environment for our team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare healthy, nutritious meals that meet dietary requirements for children.
• Support the Chef in overseeing kitchen operations and maintaining food safety and hygiene standards.
• Ensure kitchen inventory is well-maintained and assist with ordering and stock management.
• Support meal preparation and assist in the cleaning and maintenance of kitchen equipment.

Ideal Candidate

• Ideally experience in leadership within early years settings.
• Strong mentoring and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to drive improvements and ensure compliance.