Part Time Assistant Chef

Busy Bees Childcare; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nursery group in York is seeking an Assistant Chef to prepare healthy meals and support kitchen operations. Ideal candidates will have experience in early years settings and strong mentoring skills. This role provides a nurturing environment with benefits like professional development and up to 28 days of holiday per year.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Ongoing professional development

25% childcare discount

Enhanced family leave

Cycle to Work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in leadership within early years settings preferred.
• Strong mentoring and problem-solving skills required.
• Passion for leading teams and supporting quality education.

Responsibilities

• Prepare healthy, nutritious meals for children.
• Support kitchen operations and maintain food safety standards.
• Assist with ordering and stock management.

Skills

Leadership in early years settings

Problem-solving

Mentoring

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

About our Nursery – Harrogate Pannal Ash An Ofsted-rated "Good" nursery with a capacity of 86 children, located in a converted, detached house across two floors. The nursery offers three stimulating and welcoming rooms, with additional space for keyworker group activities or quiet relaxation. It is conveniently situated on the main bus route into Harrogate and just a 10-minute walk from the train station. The facility provides free parking for families. Strong connections with local schools ensure a smooth transition for children moving on to primary education. The nursery also offers weekly extracurricular activities like football, music, and language classes, and the children regularly visit a local Residential Home for arts, crafts, and singing, which is enjoyed by all.

Benefits Busy Bees Benefits include: competitive salary; ongoing professional development and career progression; Hive benefits and wellbeing hub with discounts across a range of retailers; up to 28 days holiday per year (including bank holidays); your birthday off; 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; pension access through Cushon; discounted Private Medical Insurance (PMI). Access to Hive platform for retail discounts and wellbeing resources is also provided, along with recognition and development opportunities under Grow with Us.

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!