Assistant Chef

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Professional development

Hive discounts

Holiday entitlement

Birthday off

Childcare discount

Family leave

Wellbeing support

Salary finance

EAP

Mental health support

Cycle to work

Pension access

Private medical insurance

Job summary

Busy Bees Leeds, Colton Mill, is seeking an Assistant Chef to join our kitchen team. You will prepare healthy meals for children, support the Chef, and help maintain food safety and hygiene standards in a nurturing early years setting.

You will work in a busy nursery environment, benefiting from ongoing professional development and being part of a supportive team dedicated to giving children the best start in life.

Qualifications

• Experience leading within early years settings.
• Strong mentoring and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to drive improvements and ensure compliance.

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

Mentoring

Problem-solving

Compliance

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' lives.

About our Nursery

At Busy Bees Leeds, Colton Mill, rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted, we provide a vibrant and engaging environment where every child can learn and thrive through a diverse range of exciting activities and fantastic learning resources. Our bright, welcoming rooms are designed to Spark creativity and laughter, offering endless opportunities for your child to explore their imagination. The fun continues outdoors in our spacious, enclosed garden, where children can enjoy fresh air and learn to take safe risks under the careful supervision of our dedicated staff.Conveniently located just off the M1 at Junction 46, our nursery is situated on Stile Hill Way, making it easily accessible with Leeds City Centre just 20-minute drive away. For families using public transport, there is a bus stop nearby on Stile Hill Way, served by bus routes 19, 19A, and 22. Free parking is also available for added convenience, ensuring a hassle‑free visit.

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.

Role Responsibilities:

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.

Required Qualifications:

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,