Assistant Chef

Busy Bees Childcare; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading childcare organization in Chelmsford is seeking an Assistant Chef to prepare healthy meals and support kitchen operations. This role focuses on nurturing children's growth through nutritious food while ensuring safety and hygiene standards are upheld. Ideal candidates will have experience in leadership and a passion for early childhood education. The position offers competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Ongoing professional development

Up to 28 days holiday per year

25% childcare discount

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in leadership within early years settings is preferred.
• Strong mentoring and problem-solving abilities are essential.
• A passion for supporting quality education is important.

Responsibilities

• Prepare nutritious meals that meet dietary needs for children.
• Assist the Chef in kitchen operations and maintaining hygiene standards.
• Manage kitchen inventory and support ordering processes.
• Assist in cleaning and maintaining kitchen equipment.

Skills

Leadership experience in early years settings

Mentoring skills

Problem-solving skills

Knowledge of food safety and hygiene standards

Job description

Overview

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

Join our outstanding team at Busy Bees in Chelmsford, an Ofsted-rated Outstanding nursery with a capacity of 99 children. Our longstanding staff, along with new team members, foster a collaborative environment that values growth and development. We offer excellent progression potential, including apprenticeship opportunities, to help you advance your career. Our staff room is equipped with tea and coffee facilities, along with a kettle and microwave for your convenience. Enjoy regular outings to local parks, including Central Park and the duck pond, enhancing children's learning experiences. Located just a five-minute walk from Chelmsford Town, the train station, and the bus station, our nursery is also next to local shops and Virgin Gym. We provide free parking for our staff and offer a flexible four-day working week with 40 hours, making this a fantastic opportunity to thrive in early childhood education within a supportive and vibrant community.

Benefits

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.

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.
• If you have a passion for leading teams and supporting quality education, apply today!