Chef

Busy Bees; Stafford; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

PD & progression

Bee Hive discounts

Up to 28 days holiday

Your birthday off

25% childcare discount

Enhanced family leave

Return-to-work bonus

Menopause support (Peppy)

Salary Finance

EAP & MH First Aiders

Cycle to work

Pension access

Private Medical Insurance

Job summary

Busy Bees is seeking a dedicated Chef to join our nurseries in the UK. You will prepare healthy meals for children, ensuring nutrition and adherence to dietary requirements, within a busy kitchen environment.

You will oversee the kitchen, maintain high hygiene standards, manage staff, and work with regulators during inspections. A Food Hygiene Certificate and catering experience are essential, with a focus on child-centered cooking.

Qualifications

• Must have a valid Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 or higher).
• Experience working in a kitchen or catering environment.
• Demonstrates empathy and understanding toward children.

Responsibilities

• Prepare healthy, nutritious meals that meet dietary needs and dietary policies.
• Oversee kitchen operations, ensuring food safety and hygiene compliance.
• Manage kitchen staff and coordinate with regulatory bodies during inspections.
• Maintain inventory and efficiently manage purchasing.

Skills

Food Hygiene Level 2+

Catering experience

Child empathy

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' 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' 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.