Assistant Chef

Busy Bees Nurseries; Wynyard; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Ongoing professional development

Birthday off

25% childcare discount

Cycle to Work

Private Medical Insurance

Job summary

Busy Bees Nurseries in the UK is seeking an Assistant Chef to join our kitchen team at the Wynyard nursery. You will prepare healthy, age‑appropriate meals that support children’s growth and development while upholding strict food safety standards in a busy early years setting.

Working with the Chef, you will help manage kitchen operations, monitor stock, and assist with ordering. You’ll also contribute to our Bee Curious curriculum by encouraging healthy eating and providing mentoring to junior

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in an early years setting
• 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 in early years

Mentoring

Problem solving

Food safety

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

Our Ofsted rated Outstanding Wynyard nursery caters to up to 108 children, offering a stimulating environment designed to foster early development and prepare children for primary school through the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. The nursery boasts modern, airy rooms filled with toys, games, and activity areas, along with spacious outdoor areas where children can safely explore under supervision. The nursery’s location within a business park also aligns it closely with local businesses and professionals, allowing it to cater to commuting families and contributing to the broader community. Busy Bees at Wynyard, also known as Kids 1st Wynyard, is located at 2 Wynyard Avenue, within Wynyard Business Park, Billingham, TS22 5TB. The nursery is easily accessible from nearby areas and is situated in a prime location for families working in or commuting through the business park. It’s just off the A689 and about a 10‑minute drive from Billingham town centre, making it convenient for drop‑offs and pick‑up. Complimentary onsite parking provided.

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.