Assistant Chef

Busy Bees Nurseries; Sefton; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Career development & progression

Birthday leave or special days off

25% childcare discount

Enhanced family leave and return to工作

Job summary

Busy Bees Formby in the UK is seeking an Assistant Chef to join our kitchen team. You will prepare healthy meals for children and support the Chef in day‑to‑day kitchen operations. This role emphasises food safety, stock management, and helping with meal prep and equipment care.

You’ll work in a nurturing early years environment and gain valuable catering experience. We welcome applicants who are passionate about children’s health and wellbeing and want to contribute to Busy Bees’ Bee Curious

Qualifications

• Prepare healthy, nutritious meals for children.
• Ensure food safety and hygiene standards are maintained.
• Support kitchen operations and inventory management.
• Assist in cleaning and maintenance of kitchen equipment.

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

Food preparation

Food safety & hygiene

Team support & mentoring

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

Busy Bees Formby, rated "Good" by Ofsted, is designed for children ranging from babies to preschoolers, providing an ideal environment for early education and development. Nestled in the heart of the community, our nursery offers a home‑from‑home atmosphere where children can thrive under the guidance of our experienced team. The nursery features a variety of well‑equipped rooms tailored to different age groups, ensuring children can socialize with their peers while engaging in activities that align with their interests and developmental stages.

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.