Chef

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.
This is a maternity cover position from February 2027 - January 2028.

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
Join our dedicated team at Busy Bees in Stevenage Great Ashby, a nurturing nursery with a capacity of 112 children. Our longstanding staff is passionate about providing children with the best start in life, ensuring a supportive and engaging environment for all. Conveniently located in the heart of the Great Ashby new town community, we are just a two-minute walk from the nearest bus stop, linking us to the town center.

We offer free lunch for our staff and free parking on-site, along with a day off for birthdays. Our unique Bee Curious curriculum fosters curiosity and exploration in children. This is an excellent opportunity to further your career in early childhood education within a caring and vibrant team.

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!