Assistant Chef

Busy Bees Childcare; Lewes; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nursery group in Lewes is seeking an Assistant Chef to prepare healthy meals and support kitchen operations. You will ensure food safety standards and contribute to children's wellbeing in a nurturing environment. Ideal candidates will have leadership experience in early years settings and strong mentoring skills.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Up to 28 days holiday

25% childcare discount

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Ideally experience in leadership within early years settings.
• 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 experience

Mentoring skills

Problem-solving skills

Compliance knowledge

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.

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 Busy Bees Bicester Kingsmere, rated Good by Ofsted, is a purpose-built nursery that opened in 2018, accommodating up to 110 children. Our dedicated team actively involves parents in their children's development, ensuring they receive the best start in life. We invite local artists to collaborate with us, creating beautiful pieces for the children during the Christmas season. Conveniently located near two bus stops and a variety of amenities, we also offer free parking for staff, making access to our nurturing environment easy and convenient for families and educators alike.

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, 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 workplace pension through Cushon, and discounted Private Medical Insurance (PMI). Access to our Benefits and Wellbeing platform, Hive, offering retail discounts and a Wellbeing Hub. A Celebrating You section highlighting recognition of team members, and Grow with Us area for development opportunities and training.

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!