Chef

N Family Club; Guildford; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Holiday allowance

Development fund

Parental leave

Childcare discount

Loyalty rewards

Referral scheme

Discounts

Job summary

N Family Club in Guildford is seeking a Chef to cook breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks for children and staff, following set menus and recipes while meeting nutritional needs and allergy requirements. You’ll manage daily kitchen tasks, ensure food hygiene, and build strong relationships with parents.

This permanent, full-time role in Nursery Operations offers opportunities to mentor apprentices and contribute to our family-friendly benefits and values.

Qualifications

• Previous kitchen experience is required.
• A passion for food and nutrition.
• Ability to cook with awareness of allergies and dietary needs.
• Experience with conscious practices to reduce waste and recycle.
• Ability to work quickly during busy service times.
• Positive, proactive attitude and reliability.
• Drive and motivation with a can-do approach.
• Love for customer service.

Responsibilities

• Cook fresh, tasty, and nutritious meals for children and staff daily, following our set menu and recipes.
• Ensure meals meet nutritional needs for different age groups and comply with food safety guidelines.
• Learn and remember each child’s allergy and dietary requirements.
• Prepare daily lunches and smoothies for the nursery team, accommodating diverse diets.
• Maintain kitchen paperwork, cleaning schedules, and daily safety logs.
• Order supplies, manage stock, and ensure smooth kitchen operation.
• Maintain a 5-star Food Hygiene standard.
• Build strong relationships with parents to reassure them about the food served to children.
• Mentor and support apprentice Chefs to grow their skills and confidence.

Skills

Kitchen experience

Food safety

Food allergy awareness

Nutrition awareness

Customer service

Team leadership

Job description

Chef

Department: Nursery Operations

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Guildford, Surrey

Reporting To: Naomi Springer

Compensation: £28,454 - £38,750 / year

Description

We’re more than just a nursery group. We’re the UK’s most innovative early-years education provider.

At N Family Club, we dreamed of reimagining early years education. Becoming a place that fosters creativity, embraces a curriculum-led approach, and prepares children for the modern world. We’re proudly making our dream a reality – and we want you to be a part of it!

As a Chef at N Family, you’ll be cooking up a storm every day - preparing breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for children, as well as a lunch and a smoothie for our hard-working nursery team. We’re looking for a creative Chef who’s passionate about introducing young children to new foods and can cater to a range of allergies and dietary needs. With your dedication and passion, you’ll make your mark and help us become the most loved early years education group in the UK.

Your key responsibilities

• Cook fresh, tasty, and nutritious meals for the children and team every day, following our set menu and recipes.
• Make sure each meal meets the nutritional needs of different age groups and follows all food safety and choking guidelines.
• Learn every child’s allergy and dietary requirements inside out.
• Prepare daily lunches and smoothies for the nursery team, catering to a variety of diets and preferences.
• Keep on top of kitchen paperwork and checks, including cleaning schedules and daily safety logs.
• Order supplies, manage stock, and make sure the kitchen runs smoothly.
• Maintain the kitchen to a 5-star Food Hygiene standard.
• Build friendly, professional relationships with parents so they feel confident about the food their children eat.
• Mentor and support apprentice Chefs, helping them grow their skills and confidence in the kitchen.

Our Chefs should have…

• Previous experience working in a kitchen environment.
• A passion for food and nutrition.
• A genuine interest in cooking with long-term culinary career goals.
• Experience of conscious practices within food and cooking, including recycling and creating as little food waste as possible.
• The ability to work quickly and effectively during busy service times.
• A positive, glass-half-full outlook.
• Bags of drive and motivation with a ‘make it happen’ attitude!
• A love for customer service.

The N Advantage package

• Competitive salary – £28,454 - £38,750 per annum
• Performance bonus – Up to £1,200 annually.
• Industry-leading holiday allowance – Up to 35 days, including a personal ‘Me’ day and Christmas closure.
• Development fund – £100 annual learning fund, plus paid N Academy training (level 3, EY Degrees, Forest School & more).
• Family-friendly – Enhanced parental/fostering/neonatal leave after 2 years.
• Childcare – 40% discount, plus 6 emergency days annually.

And that’s not all!

• Loyalty rewards – 5-year bonus: around-the-world trip + 2 bonus weeks off. 10-year bonus: “Out of this world” experience + 2 more weeks off!
• Referral scheme – Earn up to £1000 per successful hire.
• Amazing discounts – Save on groceries, shopping, fitness, and more.
• Travel support – Season ticket loans and cycle-to-work scheme.
• Socials & Wellbeing – Annual parties, team events, gym discounts, and online fitness.
• And much, much more!

Why N Guildford?

Set in a charming late-Victorian villa, our 73-place N Guildford nursery offers an inspiring blend of heritage and innovation, with six light-filled rooms and an adventure-ready garden.

Getting here is a breeze! We’re just a short walk from London Road station—and yes, there’s plenty of parking on site too.

Why N Family Club?

At N Family Club, we’re reimagining early years education – and we want you to be a part of it. We’re a certified Great Place to Work and one of the UK’s most innovative early years groups. With top salaries, unmatched benefits, and real career progression, we put our people first.