Assistant Chef
Content + Source + Freshness • 16 Dec 2025 • 95% confidence
Offer value
Moderate value reflects the importance of nutrition in childcare, competitive benefits, and community involvement in a nurturing environment.
- Focus on child nutrition in a supportive nursery
- Access to community involvement opportunities
- Comprehensive employee benefits
- Part-time role may limit stability
Pros
- Join an established nursery with a focus on child wellbeing.
- Opportunity to engage in beneficial community initiatives.
- Comprehensive benefits and holiday allowance.
Cons
- Limited detailed requirements in the posting.
- Potential for emotional challenges in working with children.
- Part-time role may limit income stability.
Who it's for
Early career • Part-time / onsite
Good fit
- Culinary professionals interested in child health
- Those seeking part-time, flexible roles
- Individuals wanting to make a positive impact
Not recommended for
- Full-time chefs seeking stable income
- Those who do not want emotional engagement with children
- Candidates preferring formal kitchen environments
Motivation fit
Key skills
About the job
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 Reading International, rated Good by Ofsted, has a capacity of 105 children and is conveniently located just a two-minute walk from a regular bus service that links directly to the town center. Nestled behind the Verizon building and easily accessible just off Junction 11, our nursery provides a quiet yet connected environment for families. We offer free parking for staff, ensuring easy access to our welcoming facility where we prioritize the growth and development of every child.
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.
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.
- Ideally experience in leadership within early years settings.
- Strong mentoring and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to drive improvements and ensure compliance.
