Chef

Busy Bees Childcare; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nursery group in the UK seeks a Chef to prepare healthy meals for young children. Join a nurturing team dedicated to children's wellbeing and growth. Ideal candidates will have a Food Hygiene Certificate and experience in kitchen operations, showing empathy towards each child's unique needs. The role offers competitive salary and extensive benefits.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Ongoing professional development

28 days holiday per year

25% childcare discount

Menopause support

Financial support through Salary Finance

Cycle to Work scheme

Qualifications

• Food Hygiene Certificate is essential.
• Experience in a kitchen setting is preferred.
• Ability to create nutritious meals for children.

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 (Level 2 or above)

Experience in catering

Empathy and understanding

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, provides fantastic opportunities for community involvement and fundraising to support children's lives.

About our Nursery

Busy Bees Andover Picket Twenty, rated Good by Ofsted, accommodates 72 children and is designed with four bright, unique rooms that cater to the diverse needs of our little ones. We provide a range of resources and activities to pique children's curiosity and interests, caring for ages from 3 months to 5 years, making us an excellent choice for babies up to children preparing for school. The nursery is located within a new housing development in Picket Twenty, Andover, with strong links to the local community, including visits from the local fire department and police department. Conveniently situated with excellent access to the A303 and A34, we are just a stone's throw away from Pilgrims Cross Primary School, reinforcing our commitment to community engagement. We also offer free parking for staff, ensuring easy access during drop-offs and collections.

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 a huge array 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, apply now!