Chef

Busy Bees Nurseries Ltd.; Chasetown; Remote; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Career progression

Hive discounts

Birthday day off

Childcare discount

Family leave

Job summary

Busy Bees Nurseries Ltd. is seeking a Chef to join our kitchen team, preparing healthy meals for children within our busy nursery setting.

You will contribute to the wellbeing and development of young learners while gaining valuable catering experience in the early years sector. This maternity cover runs from December 2026 to mid-October 2027 at our St Matthews nursery near Lichfield, with a supportive team and opportunities for development.

Qualifications

• Experience in catering or kitchen operations.
• Strong understanding of food safety and hygiene practices.
• Empathy and understanding toward children’s needs.

Responsibilities

• Prepare healthy, nutritious meals meeting dietary needs.
• Oversee kitchen operations, food safety, and hygiene compliance.
• Manage kitchen staff and collaborate with inspectors during inspections.
• Maintain kitchen inventory and purchasing processes.

Skills

Kitchen operations

Empathy and understanding

Food safety

Education

Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2+)

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 a 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.

This is a maternity cover role from December 2026 - mid October 2027

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 St Matthews nursery, rated "Good" by Ofsted, is a beautifully converted church that provides a warm, welcoming, and stimulating environment for children to thrive. With a capacity of 111, our nursery is designed to give children everything they need to grow, develop, and prepare for school. The stunning architecture of St Matthews Nursery is integrated into various activities and areas for exploration, including cozy reading corners tucked behind exposed brick archways and main play areas flooded with natural light from vast windows. The space has been thoughtfully adapted to modern standards, featuring interactive smart boards that bring learning to life for the children at Busy Bees Burntwood. Conveniently located just outside the historical city of Lichfield, our nursery is only a 10-minute drive from the nearest train station, Lichfield City. Free parking is available for staff.

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 needs.
• Oversee kitchen operations ensuring food safety and hygiene compliance.
• Manage kitchen staff and collaborate with regulatory bodies during inspections.
• Maintain kitchen inventory and efficiently manage purchasing.

Ideal Candidate:

• Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 or above).
• Experience in catering or kitchen operations.
• Empathy and understanding – each child is unique.

If you’re passionate about food and nutrition and maybe you have experience as Chef, an Assistant Chef, a Cook or managed a cafe