Neil is one of just three LACA chairs to have served two terms of office, taking the helm from 2004-2005 and then again from 2008-2009. The second time saw him faced with representing school caterers during the introduction of new nutritional standards in the wake of TV chef Jamie Oliver’s exposé of school meals on Channel 4.
Since 2008 he has headed LACA’s Events Group (formerly the Training & Development Committee), which oversees the association’s showpiece annual conference and exhibition known as the Main Event. His time in charge has seen the event grow in size and importance, adding extra attractions such as Finishing Touches, the final of the School Chef of the Year (SCOTY) and most recently the Grab & Go Challenge.
King’s College London had a night to remember as they won the University Award, the Sustainability Award and the Health & Nutrition Award as well as catering team member Lisa Connellan picking up the Unsung Hero Award.
There was recognition for Nick Vadis of Compass, who won the Special Contribution Award for his work in helping to set up the NHS Chefs Academy and driving the project forward to raise standards among hospital chefs.
Cleverchefs won the Contract Caterer of the Year Award and POCS Cat Taylor emerged victorious as the Armed Forces Caterers of the Year Award. A special mention must go to Matthew White, the outgoing chair of the Public Sector Catering Alliance who finishes his two-year term later this year.
Chair of TUCO from 2016-2020 and awarded an MBE in 2022, Matt has thrown himself enthusiastically into his latest pan-industry role and worked tirelessly to support all parts through his leadership of the Alliance. He received an Outstanding Industry Contribution Award, which is not one of the regular awards, and was for the first time given to an individual rather than an organisation.
Public Sector Catering editor David Foad said afterwards: “It was a terrific awards night, a genuine celebration of the best in an industry that does such a fantastic job behind the scenes. My congratulations go to all the winners, with thanks to everyone who was nominated for making our judges work so hard over difficult decisions this year.”
On the night a charity raffle was held to raise money for hospitality charity Springboard to help it in its work to encourage young talent into the sector and re-train older applicants. Colin Murray was the Public Sector Catering awards night host. The event was attended by over 600 people from the catering industry.
Full list of this year’s winners:
-
Armed Forces Caterer of the Year Award - sponsored by Ecolog: POCS Cat Taylor - Royal Navy
-
Care Catering Award - sponsored by Cereal Partners: Care UK Food and Hotel Services
-
Catering College Award - sponsored by Young’s Foodservice: Cambridge Regional College
-
Catering Manager of the Year Award - sponsored by Rational: June Cormie - Education Catering
-
Chef of the Year Award - sponsored by Unox: Kath Breckon - NYES Catering (North Yorkshire Council)
-
Contract Caterer of the Year Award - sponsored by Lockhart Aggora: Cleverchefs
-
Education Catering Award - sponsored by Premier Foods: Downham Market Academy Catering Team
-
Health & Nutrition Award - sponsored by Bidfood: King’s Food Team - King’s College London
-
Hospital Catering Award - sponsored by Pelican Procurement Services: Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Innovation Award - sponsored by Birds Eye Foodservice & Green Cuisine: Compass Group One Retail Team
-
Marketing Award - sponsored by Wafflemeister: Shire Services
-
Outstanding Industry Recognition Award: Matthew White
-
Special Contribution Award - sponsored by Middleton Foods: Nick Vadis - NHS Supply Chain: Food
-
Sustainability Award - sponsored by apetito: King’s Food Team - King’s College London
-
Team of the Year Award- sponsored by Essential Cuisine: Sodexo and DIO teams based in Cyprus
-
Training & Apprenticeship Award - sponsored by Brakes: Andrew Cullum - Avery Healthcare
-
University Catering Award - sponsored by TUCO Foundation: King’s Food Team - King’s College London
-
Unsung Hero Award - sponsored by Civica: Lisa Connellan - King’s College London
-
Lifetime Achievement Award - sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions: Neil Porter