Chef

Are you passionate about cooking and providing nutritious meals for young children? As a Chef at Busy Bees, you’ll play a vital role in 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 beyond. 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.

Through our partnership with BBC Children in Need, we provide fantastic opportunities for community involvement and fundraising to support children’s lives.

Located in Teddington, our Busy Bees Twickenham Teddington nursery is rated Good by Ofsted and accommodates 77 children in a boutique setting. Our nursery is thoughtfully separated into four spacious rooms catering to babies, 1-2-year-olds, toddlers, and preschoolers. Just an 8-minute stroll from Teddington High Street, we are easily accessible via public transport, with multiple bus routes and Teddington Train Station nearby.

We pride ourselves on providing top-quality childcare, featuring:

• Nutritious meals with a 5-star rating from the EHO
• A recently refurbished garden with a large outdoor space
• A cozy baby room equipped with an attached sleep room
• Extracurricular activities such as sports and dance
• Regular visits from local community services

• Competitive salary
• Ongoing professional development and career progression
• Access to our ‘Hive’ benefits and wellbeing hub, with discounts across a wide 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 a huge array of retail discounts, along with a Wellbeing Hub featuring resources to support your physical and mental health. Plus, we celebrate you with recognition and rewards for our valued team members, and a dedicated Grow with Us area sharing exciting development opportunities and training designed to help you thrive at Busy Bees.

• 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 have experience as a Chef, Assistant Chef, Cook, or in managing a café, apply now!