If you are interested in joining this exclusive pan-industry discussion you can simply apply via email to pscalliance@dewberryredpoint.co.uk. The successful candidates will receive free accommodation and dinner as part of the package.
The specially-invited attendees will be valued leaders in the public sector catering industry who are crucial to the Alliance’s collective mission: ‘Working Together to Feed a Healthy Nation’.
The Forum, which is taking place on Tuesday 19th November at the Leonardo Hinckley Island Hotel in Leicestershire, will widen the debate by offering a packed day-long chance to learn from inspiring presentations, engage with interactive debates and mix with a full range of stakeholders.
Professor Donald Bundy, director of the Research Consortium for School Health & Nutrition, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, will be the keynote speaker at the event.
Professor Bundy is a global expert in world health and an advocate of improving school meals as he believes this will have a long term positive impact on general health, reduce obesity and lead to healthier outcomes throughout adulthood.
An exhibition of 42 suppliers showcasing a variety of food, drink and equipment for public sector caterers will open at 9am. This will be followed at 11am when current chair of the PSC Alliance Matthew White opens the Forum.
Professor Kevin Morgan will host the first session, which is titled ‘Public Sector Catering Procurement in Schools, Hospitals and Prisons’. He has spent the last few years researching for a book focused on the issues around food procurement in the public sector.
Pierre-Yves Paslier, co-founder of Earthshot-winning organisation Notpla, will speak about their work and how caterers can reduce if not end the use of plastics in the service. Peter Russell from the Russell Partnership will explore ‘AI: preparing for the intelligent revolution’.
After lunch six delegates will be invited onto the stage and update colleagues on their work, the issues they face as well as their objectives and ambitions. The session will be split into five quickfire slots that will involve a short five minute presentation and a ten minute discussion and Q&A. The programme includes:
- 3.00pm – Bethan Cowell – NFU strategy and objectives in public sector catering
- 3.15pm – Vince Kelly – Culinary Medicine update
- 3.30pm – Jill Whittaker – Accessing the Apprenticeship Levy to drive skills and training
- 3.45pm – Nadim & Tanya Ednan-Laperouse – Update on the work of the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation
- 4.00pm – Karen Beech – Crown Commercial Services – Why the Buying Better Food and Drink service was launched
There will be a drinks reception at 7pm followed by a dinner that will include the Chair’s Awards and the official hand over of the Public Sector Catering Alliance chair position to Jayne Jones.
The principal associations driving the Alliance are: LACA, the school food people; the Hospital Caterers Association (HCA); the National Association of Care Catering (NACC); The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO); ASSIST FM (local authority providers in Scotland) and the Professional Association for Catering Education (PACE).