Assistant Chef

Busy Bees Childcare; Horsham; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nursery group in the UK is seeking an Assistant Chef to prepare nutritious meals and support kitchen operations. This role is perfect for someone passionate about child nutrition in an early years setting. The ideal candidate will have leadership experience, strong mentoring skills, and a commitment to food safety. Enjoy a supportive work environment in a respected nursery with exciting professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Professional development opportunities

Discounted childcare

Up to 28 days holiday

Your birthday off

Menopause support

Employee Assistance Program

Cycle to Work scheme

Discounted Private Medical Insurance

Qualifications

• Experience in a kitchen environment, preferably in childcare.
• Strong ability to meet dietary requirements for children.

Responsibilities

• Prepare healthy meals that meet children's dietary needs.
• Support the Chef in daily kitchen operations.
• Maintain food safety and hygiene standards.

Skills

Leadership experience in early years settings

Mentoring skills

Problem-solving skills

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.

Charitable Commitment

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

Our Nursery

Busy Bees Horsham, rated Good by Ofsted, has a capacity of 130 children and features a passionate team dedicated to giving every child the best start in life. Our staff actively participate in network meetings and training around West Sussex to build strong links with other nurseries and schools, enhancing our collaborative efforts in early childhood education. Conveniently located just a 10-minute walk from Little Haven station and with a bus stop just one minute from the nursery offering regular services, we ensure easy access for families. We also provide free parking for staff, fostering a supportive and accessible work environment.

Specific Working Hours

• Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: Mornings only
• Friday and Monday: Full day

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Ongoing professional development and career progression
• '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 Program 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 discounts across a range of retailers to help your money go further, along with a Wellbeing Hub featuring resources to support your physical and mental health. A Celebrating You section showcases the ways we recognise and reward our valued team members. Plus, a dedicated Grow with Us area shares the exciting development opportunities and training designed to support you to thrive and grow at Busy Bees.

Key Responsibilities

• Part cooking
• Mainly washing up and housekeeping
• 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!