Leeds vending company works with schools on Covid safety measures
Its VendSafe stations, installed in multiple locations around a school campus, give pupils and staff, low-contact access to food and drink during the school day.
Aaron Prout, director at Livewell Vending, says: “Like many businesses impacted by Covid-19, Livewell has had to rethink many aspects of its operation.
“As a long-term supplier to many local schools, we have worked quickly to ensure that the VendSafe provision meets their current needs and helps to refresh their pupils and staff safely.
“With staff needing to change arrangements to adhere to the latest government guidance for the re-opening of schools, Livewell have been working with them to make the safe provision of refreshments as easy as possible.
“And catering is one of the biggest challenges. To limit transmission risks, schools now need to control the movement of pupils in separate ‘bubbles’, reduce lunch and breaktime congestion, and encourage students to stay on-site during school hours. And they’re finding that Livewell’s automated vending stations can help with this.
“With drinks and snacks stored in a temperature-controlled, hygienic unit behind a glass screen, the ‘self-serve’ process results in a low contact solution.
“Product selection is made via a wipe-clean touchscreen, which has an antimicrobial coating. Integration with the school’s cashless payment system removes the need to handle coins, and the quick dispensing mechanism results in a quick turnaround and fewer queues.
“Furthermore, a hand sanitiser is attached to the front of each station, encouraging good hand hygiene. Livewell’s VendSafe stations need just a standard plug socket to operate, so can be located at numerous locations around the school site to allow access to different ‘bubbles’.
Mark Newstead, Assistant Principal of Garforth Academy, addeds: “Livewell are helping us meet the challenge of implementing COVID-19 safety measures. We want our staff and pupils to feel safe in school and, as a part of the catering service, Livewell’s vending stations provide a low-contact, self-serve solution to safely access refreshments.”