The winners receive a prize of £500 cash, a Caterers’ Challenge trophy and an expenses-paid trip to the LACA Main Event on 8th July where the trophies will be presented.
As caterers continue to serve increasingly diverse student populations, providing meals that cater to all dietary and cultural requirements has never been more important argues Pasta King.
From the start of the 2026 school year, over half a million more children will benefit from a free nutritious meal every school day.
The Labour Government says this will put £500 back into parents’ pockets every year by expanding eligibility for free school meals.
Children in the UK eat an average of three unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks a day, contributing to excessive sugar, salt and saturated fat consumption.
The LACA Awards for Excellence aim to recognise individuals and teams that have made a 'real difference' to school food and education catering.
Designed to challenge the perception of school as just a place for lessons, the programme ‘transformed’ the school canteen over six weeks into a vibrant after-hours community hub.
Inspiring Scotland is delivering the Fund on behalf of Scottish Government and funding will be prioritised to areas where access to a breakfast club is most needed and will expand access to familie
Children eat proportionally more processed meat than adults – with over a third (36%) of meat eaten by children coming from processed meat such as bacon, ham and sausages.
School caterers have been tasked with creating a ‘fun and adventurous’ dessert in a challenge set by award-winning school chef and competition judge Holly Charnock.