Chef

Busy Bees Childcare; Preston; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nursery group in Preston is seeking a Chef to prepare healthy meals for young children, ensuring food safety and kitchen management. The ideal candidate has a Food Hygiene Certificate and experience in catering, with motivation to inspire children's love for nutritious food. This role offers a supportive work environment with multiple benefits, including a competitive salary and opportunities for development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Ongoing professional development

28 days holiday per year

25% childcare discount

Menopause support through Peppy

Cycle to Work scheme

Qualifications

• Must have a Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 or above).
• Experience in catering or kitchen operations is essential.
• Empathy towards children's individual needs is crucial.

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.

Skills

Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 or above)

Experience in catering or kitchen operations

Empathy and understanding

Passionate about food and nutrition

Experience as Chef, Assistant Chef, Cook

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 Ashton House, rated "Good" by Ofsted, is nestled in the beautiful grounds of Ashton Park and is housed in a charming converted manor. This unique setting is tailored for early years play and exploration, featuring eight light and airy classrooms designed to provide quality learning experiences for all children. Each classroom boasts its own garden space, allowing children to explore, play, and extend their learning outdoors.

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)
• Access to our Benefits and Wellbeing platform, Hive – offering huge array of retail discounts and 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
• 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.
• Passionate about food and nutrition.
• Experience as Chef, Assistant Chef, Cook or has managed a cafe.