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 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.

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

Located in a large, converted home within a residential area of Teddington, Busy Bees Twickenham Teddington is rated Good by Ofsted and accommodates 77 children. Our nursery features:

• Four spacious rooms catering to babies, 1-2-year-olds, toddlers, and preschoolers.
• A recently refurbished garden with a large outdoor space and a separate safe area for babies.
• A cozy baby room equipped with an attached sleep room.
• Long-standing staff members with up to 15 years of experience.
• Extracurricular activities such as sports, dance, and 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 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 a huge array of retail discounts to help your money go further. Our Wellbeing Hub features resources to support your physical and mental health, and our Celebrating You section showcases the ways we recognize and reward our valued team members. Plus, a dedicated Grow with Us area shares exciting development opportunities and training designed to support you to thrive and grow at Busy Bees.

As a Chef, your key responsibilities will include:

• Preparing healthy, nutritious meals that meet dietary needs.
• Overseeing kitchen operations to ensure food safety and hygiene compliance.
• Managing kitchen staff and collaborating with regulatory bodies during inspections.
• Maintaining kitchen inventory and efficiently managing purchasing.

We’re looking for an ideal candidate who possesses:

• 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, we invite you to apply now!