About Us

Michael began his illustrious career in education catering in 1989 in Tower Hamlets, eventually becoming Head of Contract Services. In 2016, he founded the Juniper Group in Newham, which employs 750 staff and provides catering, cleaning, and health and safety services to schools and businesses across East London, providing social value. Juniper has received national recognition for management achievements and innovation.  Michael has earned accolades including a Catey award and Freeman of The City of London.  

A LACA supporter for over 30 years, Michael served as National Chair in 2018-19, lobbying MPs on junk food advertising near schools and UIFSM funding. He will become national chair again in September 2025 and champions the public sector on the Southeast regional committee for the Institute of Hospitality. 

A great advocate for universal free school meals for all pupils of all ages, he is determined to continue to do all he can to see this achieved before retirement beckons with a large gin and tonic with his wife on the beach in Spain. 

Brad is the managing director of CATERed, a cooperative school meals provider in Plymouth, owned by over 60 schools and Plymouth council. Brad's career in local government began age 16 with Devon's trading standards team. He later took on client roles for Devon County Council during compulsory competitive tendering (CCT) in cleaning and school catering during the late 1980s. 

 A native of Plymouth, Brad joined Plymouth City Council after local government re-organisation in 1998, where he managed sales and marketing of services directly to schools. In 2007, he was appointed education catering manager, overseeing the school meals service during a transformative period and which led to significant government funding, the building of over 20 new kitchens, ending all transported school meals across the city and major refurbishment of the school kitchen estate. 

 Brad played a crucial role in the national School Food Plan, leading the small schools project across rural Devon and Cornwall. In April 2015, he launched CATERed, the UK's first cooperative school meals provider, ensuring all children have access to freshly prepared, locally sourced hot school food with a strong focus on building and maintaining regional food production and sourcing whether that be with dedicated local farms growing potatoes to locally caught and landed haddock.  CATERed now provide services in Plymouth, West Devon and South East Cornwall.  

Brad has been an active member of LACA since the early 1990s. He has served as regional chair for the South West Region, became a Board Member in 2018, was national Chair in 2022/23 and is currently the Vice Chair Elect.

Bryan joined LACA because he recognises the association's voice in advocating nutritious food for all students. As the sector has faced increasing challenges over the years, Bryan has volunteered more time to supporting LACA, culminating in his recent appointment to the board as a director. 

With over 15 years of experience in the restaurant and retail sectors, Bryan transitioned to education catering over 12 years ago and currently oversees an education catering business that serves over 600 schools across England. Having personally experienced life as a free school meal student, Bryan is passionate about ensuring that future generations have daily access to safe, nutritious food made from high-quality ingredients and delivered with exceptional customer service. This extends to contributing to parents and children’s learning and understanding of nutritious food. 

Bryan's commitment extends beyond food and service in his own business; he is also driven by LACA’s role in advocating the importance of nutritious food. He firmly believes that when children start their lives with a strong foundation in healthy eating and learning about nutrition, they are more likely to learn well, achieve more, and lead healthier lives. 

With over 20 years of dedicated service, Judith is the education catering business manager at Cardiff Council overseeing the education catering service, which provides over 28,000 meals to 116 schools. She trained as a home economist at the University of North London and has held significant roles at Marks and Spencer, Cardiff University, and the University of South Wales.

In 2005, she helped develop and then piloted the Welsh Government’s Free Breakfast Initiative, and in 2015, she helped pioneered and develop the award-winning ‘food and fun’ holiday pilot programme, adopted by the Welsh Government and is now implemented across all 22 Welsh local authorities. During the pandemic, Judith innovated a direct payment system for free school meal pupils across Cardiff. She represented education catering providers supporting the Welsh Government in the rollout of Universal Free School Meals for primary pupils in Wales.

Judith has served as treasurer and six years as regional chair for LACA Wales and is now the LACA national chair. Recognised as one of the UK Public Sector Catering’s Most Influential People in 2017, 2018, and 2025, Judith exemplifies leadership and commitment in the education catering industry.

Philippa has worked in education catering for nearly 20 years, starting in Tower Hamlets and later supporting Newham Catering and Cleaning Services' transition into Juniper Ventures. As Chief Operating Officer, she is passionate about her work, knowing the difference it makes to children having a hot, healthy and nutritious meal every day at school, especially in Newham where child poverty is well above the London average.  

She is committed to ensuring that as many children as possible benefit from free school meals. Philippa supports LACA in lobbying the government to protect and increase the UIFSM funding.    

Neil has dedicated over 40 years to the education catering sector, beginning his career as a kitchen manager in a primary school in 1981. He advanced to the role of contract manager for Avon County, overseeing catering services for 475 schools. Following the local government reorganisation in 1995, Neil moved to Bristol City Council, where he became the head of service for catering and facilities. 

In 2005, Neil joined BAM Facilities Management (formerly HBG) to lead the mobilisation of a new build project comprising four secondary schools and a leisure centre. He eventually rose to the position of Director for the South of England, a role he has held for eight years. 

Neil's passion for school meals has been unwavering. He has been an active member of LACA since the mid-1990s and currently serves as the business director and chair of the events group. Additionally, Neil is the regional chair for the Institute of Hospitality (IOH) South West branch, where he strives to elevate the profile of public sector catering

Following time spent in industrial catering, Hilary's career spanned 38 years in school catering. Firstly, in Essex rising to Deputy County Catering Manager (760 schools),  followed by Head of Services for Cambridgeshire County Council (350 schools). She successfully completed two rounds of compulsory competitive tendering (CCT) followed by best value legislation and established one of the first central cook-freeze factory units, ensuring quality meals for small rural schools. Her responsibilities also covered contracts for police, civic, and cleaning services for Cambridgeshire.  

Hilary founded LACA In 1988-89 and served as its first Chair. Stepping down from that she has continued as Honorary Treasurer, Finance Director and Chair of Finance & Administration.  

Hilary was awarded the first Blue Ribband for Cost Sector Catering in 1995 and the Public Sector Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. Both awarded in recognition of her years of service to school catering, establishing LACA and contributing to its continued development. 

Hilary has brought her experience to the Board of Directors since inception.