Part Time Assistant Chef

Busy Bees Childcare; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nursery group in the UK is seeking an Assistant Chef to prepare healthy meals for children at their Nottingham location. The role involves supporting kitchen operations, maintaining hygiene standards, and ensuring food safety. Ideal candidates will have leadership experience in early years settings and strong mentoring skills. Enjoy competitive benefits and a nurturing working environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Ongoing professional development

Up to 28 days holiday per year

25% childcare discount

Enhanced family leave

Cycle to Work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in leadership within early years settings is ideal.
• Strong mentoring and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to drive improvements and ensure compliance.

Responsibilities

• Prepare healthy, nutritious meals that meet dietary requirements for children.
• Support the Chef in overseeing kitchen operations and maintaining food safety and hygiene standards.
• Ensure kitchen inventory is well-maintained and assist with ordering and stock management.
• Support meal preparation and assist in the cleaning and maintenance of kitchen equipment.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Problem-solving

Job description

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 an Assistant 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 offers opportunities for community involvement and fundraising to support children's lives.

About our Nursery

Join the enthusiastic team at Busy Bees Nottingham Wollaton, an Ofsted-rated Good nursery with a capacity of 109, where no two days are the same. Our vibrant nursery is dedicated to creating an engaging environment filled with laughter and fun, with expansive gardens and dedicated outdoor spaces for each age group. The pre-school area fosters a love for plants and the environment. We collaborate with the local library and Wollaton Park to enrich children’s learning, and are conveniently located on Bromcote Lane, a 10-minute drive from Nottingham city centre. The A52 is 4 minutes away, and the M1 at Junction 25 is about 10 minutes away. Public transport includes a bus stop at Admiral Rodney (Stop WO06) serving routes 13 and 30 outside the nursery. Free Jo Jingle sessions on Mondays during term time add music and movement to weekly routines. Free parking is available for staff.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Ongoing professional development and career progression
• Hive benefits and wellbeing hub with discounts across 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
• Access to workplace pension through Cushon
• Discounted Private Medical Insurance (PMI)

Additionally, you’ll have access to our Benefits and Wellbeing platform, Hive, offering a wide range of retailer discounts and a Wellbeing Hub to support health and development, along with recognition programs and development opportunities at Busy Bees.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare healthy, nutritious meals that meet dietary requirements for children.
• Support the Chef in overseeing kitchen operations and maintaining food safety and hygiene standards.
• Ensure kitchen inventory is well-maintained and assist with ordering and stock management.
• Support meal preparation and assist in the cleaning and maintenance of kitchen equipment.

Ideal Candidate

• Ideally experience in leadership within early years settings.
• Strong mentoring and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to drive improvements and ensure compliance.

If you have a passion for leading teams and supporting quality education, apply today!