Chef

Our modern, high-quality Cricklewood centre provides a warm, nurturing environment filled with laughter, learning and endless opportunities, giving children the best possible start in life. With capacity for up to 110 children, it offers an inspiring setting where your care and creativity can truly shine, while providing a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills, grow your career and reach your full potential. Conveniently located just a 7-minute walk from Cricklewood Thameslink Station, with excellent bus connections and easy access to Kilburn, Willesden and Golders Green, the centre is ideally positioned for commuters.

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 more than just a kitchen—it’s your chance to help shape the food culture in a 110 place nursery where fresh ingredients, big flavors, and happy children come together! If you love cooking wholesome, nutritious food, have a passion for early years nutrition, and want to be part of something exciting, we want to hear from you!

Busy Bees Benefits

• Competitive salary of £16.35 per hour
• 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.

🔥 Your Chef Responsibilities

⭐ Prepare healthy, delicious meals that meet children’s dietary needs

⭐ Oversee kitchen operations, ensuring food safety & hygiene compliance

⭐ Manage kitchen staff & collaborate with regulatory bodies during inspections

⭐ Create exciting, nutritious menus that keep little tummies happy

⭐ Maintain kitchen inventory & ensure efficient purchasing

🍽️ Are You Our Perfect Chef?

✅ Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 or above)

✅ Experience in catering or kitchen operations

✅ Passion for creating balanced, nutritious meals for young children

✅ Empathy and understanding – Every child is unique

✅ If you’ve worked as a Chef, Assistant Chef, Cook, or Café Manager, we want to hear from you!

About Us 

Busy Bees is the UK’s leading nursery group, with nearly 400 nurseries across the UK and even more overseas! We’re all about giving every child the best start in life and ensuring our team feels valued, heard, and supported every step of the way!

As part of our team, you’ll be introduced to our Bee Curious curriculum, designed to nurture wonder, creativity, and confidence in young learners!

🌍 Our Charitable Commitment – Through our partnership with BBC Children in Need, we fundraise, create community events, and help support children across the UK.

✨ This is YOUR chance to be part of something exciting, rewarding, and career-changing. APPLY NOW and start your next adventure with Busy Bees! 🎉