Chef

Busy Bees Nurseries; Thames Ditton; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bee Curious benefits platform

Birthday off

Job summary

Busy Bees Thames Ditton, part of Busy Bees Nurseries, is seeking a Chef to join our kitchen team. You’ll prepare healthy meals for children, support growth and development, and work in a nurturing environment within the early years sector.

We offer a supportive environment, opportunities for professional development, and access to our Bee Curious curriculum. If you’re passionate about nutrition and childcare, apply now.

Qualifications

• Experience in catering or kitchen operations.
• Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2+) required.
• Empathy and understanding for each child’s 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

Catering operations

Food safety awareness

Empathy and child-focused

Education

Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2+)

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 Thames Ditton, rated Good by Ofsted, accommodates 89 children in a bright and spacious nursery divided into three rooms, each tailored to different age ranges. This ensures that your child develops at the same pace as their friends. We take great pride in our outdoor space, which wraps around the entire building, providing shaded areas for each age group and numerous opportunities for exploration and play. Our long-standing staff team is passionate about giving every child in our care the best start in life. We maintain excellent links within the local community, fostering great relationships with the nearby nursing home, community center, library, and local schools. Conveniently situated within walking distance of Thames Ditton train station, we offer direct trains to London and easy access to the local village. Additionally, we provide free parking for staff, ensuring hassle‑free access during drop-offs and collections.

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.

If you’re passionate about food and nutrition and maybe you have experience as Chef, an Assistant Chef, a Cook or managed a cafe