Part Time Chef

Busy Bees; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nursery group in the UK is looking for a Chef to join their kitchen team in Edinburgh. This role focuses on preparing nutritious meals for young children, managing kitchen operations, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. Ideal candidates should have a Food Hygiene Certificate and relevant catering experience, along with a passion for food and child welfare.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Ongoing professional development

Up to 28 days holiday per year

25% childcare discount

Enhanced family leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work scheme

Discounted Private Medical Insurance

Financial support via Salary Finance

Wellbeing Hub with resources

Qualifications

• Must hold a Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate.
• Experience in a catering environment is essential.
• Demonstrated empathy for children.

Responsibilities

• Prepare healthy, nutritious meals based on dietary needs.
• Oversee kitchen operations and maintain food safety standards.
• Manage inventory and work with staff during inspections.

Skills

Food preparation

Hygiene compliance

Team management

Empathy

Education

Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 or above)

Job description

Role 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 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
There is much to love about our 88 place Busy Bees Broughton nursery, from the inspiring arts and crafts corner to our quiet and cosy reading area, designed for children to thrive!Our fantastic nursery in Edinburgh is conveniently located a short drive from many areas such as Canonmills and Bonnington. The nearest train station is Edinburgh Waverly, which is approximately a 20-minute walk from our nursery.

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.

Role Responsibilities:

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.

Required Qualifications:

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!