For me, that means my calendar of events for 2025 really kicks in, and I'm very much looking forward to the Hospital Caterer's Association's Leadership and Development Forum on April 1-2. The theme, Food at our Core, is clear in its direction and the programme clearly reflects that. I'm looking forward to two days of learning and engaging with many of you there.
I have also just received my judging pack through for the Public Sector Catering Awards and not only am I absolutely blown away by the number and quality of applications I've seen, but I'm already inspired and in awe of the amazing work that is underway across our sector.
It's always exciting to see the new innovations and service developments that have emerged over the past year, as well as the inspiration we can all see from the teams and individuals working so hard across our sector, every day.
Over the past month, we've been busy focussing our plans on how we will build upon the five key actions that were identified at the PSC Round Table in January.
We are in the process of drafting a letter to the Food and Drink Sector Council asking for a place at that forum, and we hope this time around to take our own advice: to be more direct, and to show the strength of feeling across our industry by expanding the signatories to the letter to show that breadth of support from across the food system.
We are also engaged in some early information gathering that we hope might help us to leverage and gauge political interest in a potential APPG for Public Food, and are making good headway: if anyone has any suggestions for contacts or thoughts about this action, please do get in touch with me directly, I'd love to hear from you.
Until next month, keep your eye on those bright glimpses of sun that emerge every now and then - brighter days are surely coming!
