Childcare jobs in United Kingdom

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.

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.

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.

Join our enthusiastic team at Busy Bees Belper Gibfield Lane, an Ofsted-rated Good nursery with a capacity of 90 children, where we provide a nurturing environment for babies through to preschoolers. Our nursery features a variety of well-equipped rooms designed to cater to each age group's developmental needs, allowing children to grow and learn at their own pace.

Conveniently located just a 3-minute drive from Belper town centre and a 25-minute drive from Derby City Centre, our nursery is easily accessible via excellent public transport links. We are an 8-minute walk from Belper train station, and the nearest bus stop at Herbert Strutt School, serving routes 71 and 360, is just a short stroll away. Additionally, the Babington Hospital bus stop is only a 3-minute walk from our location. With free parking available, we offer convenience for parents and staff alike. If you are passionate about early childhood education and want to be part of a supportive community, we would love to welcome you to Busy Bees Belper Gibfield Lane!

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 Hive Benefits and Wellbeing platform with discounts and a Wellbeing Hub

A Celebrating You section recognising and rewarding our valued team members

A Grow with Us area sharing development opportunities and training to support you to thrive at Busy Bees.

• 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.

• 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!