Chef

Busy Bees In Portishead; Greater London; On-site; GBP 25,000 - GBP 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nursery group in Greater London seeks a passionate Chef to prepare nutritious meals for young children. You'll be part of a nurturing environment, contributing to children's wellbeing while overseeing kitchen operations and maintaining food safety standards. Ideal candidates hold a Food Hygiene Certificate and have experience in catering. This role offers a competitive salary, benefits like up to 28 days of holiday, and ongoing professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Ongoing professional development

Up to 28 days holiday

25% childcare discount

Mental Health support

Cycle to Work scheme

Discounted Private Medical Insurance

Qualifications

• Proven experience in catering or kitchen operations.
• Strong knowledge of food safety and hygiene practices.
• Ability to manage and collaborate with kitchen staff.

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 preparation

Hygiene compliance

Team management

Empathy

Education

Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 or above)

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 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

Busy Bees Hammersmith Ravenscourt, rated Good by Ofsted, accommodates 117 children and provides an excellent nursery setting where children are nurtured in a space designed for play, learning, and exploration. Conveniently located with easy access via the Piccadilly, District, Hammersmith, and City lines, we are just a two-minute walk from Ravenscourt Park Station on the District line. Our nursery offers complimentary lunches for the children, and our exciting roof garden provides opportunities for imaginative play, allowing children to explore their creativity, whether it's playing in our Wendy House or cooking up a delicious meal in our mud kitchen.

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)

We also offer access to our Benefits and Wellbeing platform, Hive, with a wide range of retail discounts and a Wellbeing Hub featuring resources to support physical and mental health. A Celebrating You section recognises and rewards our valued team members, and a Grow with Us area shares development opportunities and training designed to support you to thrive 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 you have experience as a Chef, an Assistant Chef, a Cook or have managed a cafe, apply now!