Assistant Chef

Busy Bees Nurseries Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 23,000 - GBP 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nursery group in Greater London is seeking an Assistant Chef who is passionate about cooking for young children. In this role, you'll prepare nutritious meals, support kitchen operations, and maintain hygiene standards. Ideal candidates will have experience in early years settings, strong mentoring skills, and the ability to ensure compliance and improvements. This position offers a nurturing environment and a chance to positively impact children's wellbeing.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Ongoing professional development

28 days holiday per year

25% childcare discount

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounted Private Medical Insurance

Qualifications

• Experience in leadership within early years settings is preferred.
• Strong skills in mentoring and problem-solving are essential.
• Ability to drive improvements and ensure compliance with safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Prepare healthy, nutritious meals for children.
• Support kitchen operations and maintain hygiene standards.
• Manage kitchen inventory and assist with ordering.
• Aid in meal preparation and cleaning kitchen equipment.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Problem-solving

Food safety and hygiene standards

Job description

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

Busy Bees London Kenton Preston Hill, rated Good by Ofsted, accommodates 47 children and offers a friendly, safe, and supportive environment where children can learn and play. Under the guidance of our experienced team, children are encouraged to be creative and independent while developing a love for learning, exploring, and building relationships with others. Our Northwest London nursery is easily accessible by car or public transport, with onsite parking and convenient buggy storage for safe and easy drop‑off and collection. The nearest underground station is Kingsbury, located approximately a 15‑minute walk from the nursery. We also provide complimentary lunches and free parking for staff. In our outdoor area, children can enjoy a variety of activities, including hula hoops, climbing frames, and an outdoor creative station, fostering their physical and social development.

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 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.

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!