News

The Public Sector Catering Awards aim to highlight and celebrate excellence in catering by recognising individuals and teams who have made a ‘significant’ contribution over the past year.

The winners from the education catering sector included:

Chef of the Year Award (Sponsored by Unox): Wayne Wright, Bidfood

Using ground-breaking research from Bidfood’s 2023 Food and Drink Trends, Wayne assisted Hampshire County Council Catering Services (HC3S) during National School Meals Week. With the theme, ‘Go Green’, Wayne was tasked with introducing year sevens to vegan food and educating them on reducing food waste.

Contract Caterer of the Year (Sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions): The Pantry Catering

The Pantry Catering was able to offer genuine, consistent and attentive support to clients new and old, at a time when they’ve needed it most. The Pantry won 35 new contracts through competitive tender processes, and grew their client base to over 100 schools and turnover to £10.7 million in the last academic year alone.

Education Catering Award (Sponsored by Premier Foods): Blackpool Catering Services

Blackpool Catering Services are making a mighty impact across the town and beyond with their passion for having a child-centred approach to food. They work closely with schools to ensure that the menus are suitable to the preferences of their children, with menu adaptations available if needed.  

Health and Nutrition Award (Sponsored by Bidfood): ISS UK

Global facility management provider ISS has re-engineered menus to centre plant-based and vegetarian options. They have nudged customers towards these foods by ensuring there is a plant-based option available every day, removed labels such as ‘meat-free’ and ‘vegan’ as well as putting these options as the first on menus.

Marketing Award (Sponsored by Wafflemeister): Barnsley Schools Catering

Barnsley Schools Catering successfully executed a borough wide multi-media marketing campaign, reaching a huge number of parents, pupils and schools to encourage free school meal registration and uptake. FSM registrations rose from 8,229 in April 2022 to 10,463 in December 2022, an increase of over 27% exceeding the 25% target.

Training and Apprenticeship Award (Sponsored by Brakes): Jane Stapleton, Impact Food Group

Six months into the programme she was promoted to assistant chef and a further six months after that, in January this year, Jane was promoted to chef manager at Dogsthorpe Infant School. Former SCOTY winner Rob Chambers said: “This is a real testament to her efforts and motivation to continuously improve and embrace the opportunities available to her.”