Chef

Busy Bees Nurseries Ltd.; Stevenage; Remote; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Career progression

Bee Curious benefits

Up to 28 days holiday per year

Job summary

Busy Bees Nurseries Ltd. in Stevenage Great Ashby is seeking a Chef to prepare healthy, age-appropriate meals for children within our nursery kitchen. You will oversee food safety, support our Bee Curious curriculum, and work as part of a caring team in a nurturing environment.

This maternity cover runs from February 2027 to January 2028, with opportunities to lead kitchen operations, manage staff, and collaborate with regulatory bodies as required, while enjoying staff benefits and staff meals.

Qualifications

• Food hygiene certificate (Level 2 or above) required.
• Experience in catering or kitchen operations is preferred.
• Empathy and understanding of each child’s unique needs.

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 experience

Kitchen operations

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.

This is a maternity cover position from February 2027 - January 2028.

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
Join our dedicated team at Busy Bees in Stevenage Great Ashby, a nurturing nursery with a capacity of 112 children. Our longstanding staff is passionate about providing children with the best start in life, ensuring a supportive and engaging environment for all. Conveniently located in the heart of the Great Ashby new town community, we are just a two-minute walk from the nearest bus stop, linking us to the town center. We offer free lunch for our staff and free parking on-site, along with a day off for birthdays. Our unique Bee Curious curriculum fosters curiosity and exploration in children. This is an excellent opportunity to further your career in early childhood education within a caring and vibrant team.

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.