Chef

Busy Bees In Portishead; Greater London; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Career progression

Hive discounts

Holiday entitlement

Birthday off

Childcare discount

Wellbeing support

Cycle to work

Private medical insurance

Job summary

Busy Bees Westminster in central London is hiring a Chef to prepare healthy, nutritious meals for children aged 3 months to 5 years. You will join the kitchen team, ensuring meals meet dietary needs while upholding food safety and hygiene standards.

With a focus on learning and development through our Bee Curious curriculum, you’ll work in a nurturing environment, manage kitchen operations, and support daily catering while benefiting from Busy Bees’ benefits, discounts, and career progression.

Qualifications

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

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.

Skills

Food Hygiene Certificate

Catering/Kitchen operations

Empathy

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.

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 Westminster, rated Good by Ofsted, accommodates 64 children aged 3 months to 5 years and provides a nurturing environment for them to flourish in four dedicated rooms, each thoughtfully designed to cater to the unique needs of different age groups. Our approach ensures that parents can have peace of mind, knowing their child will receive comprehensive support at every stage of development, with a wide array of daily opportunities tailored to foster growth. Whether it's taking their first steps or preparing for key milestones like learning to write their name, our highly qualified team is dedicated to offering every child the best possible start in life. Conveniently located in central London on Horseferry Road, our nursery boasts excellent public transport links, including a bus stop outside on Marsham Street (stop NS), serving routes 786, 788, 789, and 3. St James Park Underground Station is just an 8‑minute walk away, and Victoria Station is a 15‑minute walk from the nursery, providing various transportation options. We also offer complimentary lunches for our children. The fun continues outdoors, where children can develop their physical and social skills while playing alongside their friends in various environments, such as the mud kitchen or the sand pit. We have also introduced flower planting activities, helping children understand how new things grow and the cycle of life!

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.