Well Happy New Year to you all and here’s to a fantastic 2023 for us all!
2022 was kinder than previous recent years, but the ongoing cost of living crisis, the continuing rumblings of the pandemic and of course the Brexit dividends kept on coming. But lets hope that 2023 will see us all turn a corner and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the year ahead.
As I write I am sitting wrapped up in my hoodie as in Reading it is -7 degrees and I know other parts of the country are even colder. I checked my social media accounts this morning and it is literally heart warming to see the wonderful work Public Sector Caterers are doing. The internet is awash with brilliant photos of delicious home cooked food, prepared by professionals who literally treat their jobs like vocations. The care that has gone into Christmas lunches and dinners in schools, hospitals, care homes, meals on wheels, colleges, universities and of course across the armed forces is simply staggering!
I saw earlier in the week one photo of a not so lovingly prepared meal and I immediately re-posted and replied pointing towards the amazing work you are all doing, day in and day out. The majority of public food these days is A1 quality and I for one wasn’t letting one poor show cloud your awesome work.
I have started to use the hashtag #Publicfood on social media posts as we need to raise the profile further of the amazing work you, your colleagues and teams produce. Your work literally protects services such as the NHS and Care sectors from unnecessary burden, by ensuring that everyone who needs it has access to hot, tasty and nutritional food. It is my work and mission to wake up government to the absolute necessity of #Publicfood and what it does to save further crisis, pain and suffering across our nations. A well fed nation is a productive and healthy one, it isn’t rocket science it is as they say ‘simples’.
I worked with Jeannette Orrey and Brad Pearce recently on an article that highlighted the need for investment in infrastructure to ensure that the many calls for the extension of free school meals can actually be delivered. Many are riding in on this rally call and yet we still have no guarantees for that infrastructure to be built, expanded or supported in terms of staffing resources, equipment and in some cases, actual kitchens.
LACA recently hosted a brilliant event at the Houses of Parliament, highlighting National School Meals week and the importance of school meals. Many politicians attended and hopefully listened. Lets hope this important lobbying pays dividends and all children get equal treatment and to sample your wonderful food!
It was also great to see TUCO colleagues gather for their winter conference at the University of Newcastle in late November. The conference focused on horizon scanning for hospitality and included great insights as to what we all as PS caterers will face in the short and medium term. I am hoping we can share some of those insights across PSCA so look out for articles in the Public Sector Catering Magazine.
I have also spent some time working with various industry partners following my talk at the Foodservice Equipment Association (FEA) conference where my offer to use the PS as living laboratories to design, build and supply equipment that will aid us all has been taken up. There is lots of innovation afoot and I look forward to seeing these labour & cost saving and more energy efficient ideas come to fruition in 2023.
Well I will sign off here as I know you are all busy, but rest assured we will keep chipping away and flying the flag for you all with pride. Happy New Year and don’t forget to use the #Publicfood when you are on your socials!
Matt
Matthew White MBE FIH
PSCA Chairman
