Assistant Chef

Busy Bees Nurseries; Coventry; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Ongoing professional development

Hive benefits and retailer discounts

Up to 28 days holiday per year

Your birthday off

25% childcare discount

Enhanced family leave and return to be

Peppy menopause support

Salary Finance assistance

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work scheme

Pension via Cushon

Private Medical Insurance

Job summary

Busy Bees Nurseries in Coventry Allesley Green is seeking an Assistant Chef to prepare healthy, child-friendly meals and support the kitchen team in delivering nutritious, age-appropriate menus daily. You will work in a nurturing environment within the UK's leading nursery group, benefiting from ongoing professional development, a range of employee benefits, and flexible working options where possible.

Be part of a collaborative team that values wellbeing, safety, and quality meals aligned to

Qualifications

• Experience leading in early years settings.
• Strong mentoring and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to high food-safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Prepare healthy, nutritious meals meeting 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 cleaning and maintenance of kitchen equipment.

Skills

Leadership in EY settings

Mentoring

Problem solving

Food safety & hygiene

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

Join our dedicated team at Busy Bees in Coventry Allesley Green, an Ofsted-rated Outstanding facility with a capacity of 46 children. Our longstanding staff includes Centre Director Becky Curran, with 32 years of experience, alongside Chris Lewis and Patricia Ward, each with 20 and 10 years, respectively. We pride ourselves on strong community ties, collaborating with our local Onestop, which judges our internal competitions, and participating in community service activities like litter picking. Conveniently located with a bus terminal directly opposite the center, we provide easy access to both Coventry and Birmingham. Staff members enjoy free lunch and parking, and we are open to exploring flexible working options upon request, creating a supportive and adaptable work environment.

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.