Chef

Busy Bees; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Join the leading nursery group in the UK as a Chef at Busy Bees, where you will prepare nutritious meals that support children's growth. You’ll work in a nurturing environment focused on healthy eating, food safety, and teamwork within a vibrant kitchen setting. Enjoy competitive salary, ongoing professional development, and a range of employee benefits while making a positive impact in children's lives.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Ongoing professional development and career progression

25% childcare discount

Up to 28 days holiday per year

Your birthday off

Enhanced family leave and return to work bonus

Cycle to Work scheme

Discounted Private Medical Insurance

Qualifications

• Food Hygiene Certificate required.
• Experience in catering or kitchen operations.
• Empathy and understanding of children's unique needs.

Responsibilities

• Prepare healthy, nutritious meals that meet dietary needs.
• Oversee kitchen operations ensuring food safety compliance.
• Manage kitchen inventory and staff.

Skills

Food Hygiene

Catering

Empathy

Education

Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 or above)

Job description

Role 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 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.

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 beautiful 85 place Busy Bees Nursery is located on Forres Street in Edinburgh New Town, providing top-quality care and education for children aged 3 months to 5 years. Situated within close proximity to excellent public transport links, the nursery is easily accessible! Nearby bus stops such as Drumsheugh Place, Queen Street Gardens West, and Hill Street (Stop GU) serve multiple routes, providing convenient options for transportation. For those arriving by train, Waverley Train Station is just a 20-minute walk away

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 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.

Required Qualifications:

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 apply now!