Among the categories that have caught the attention are the Team of the Year and the Innovation, and there have also been particularly strong numbers submitted for the Catering Manager and Hospital Caterer awards.
David Foad, editor of Public Sector Catering, said: “This year has been a hugely encouraging response from catering teams, managers and colleagues. If last year’s numbers indicated a return to pre-pandemic levels of interest, then this year has seen that support turbo-charged.
“This suggests that public sector catering is increasingly seen by those working within it as a dynamic part of the industry and they are keen to see the stand-out individuals and teams they work with recognised for their achievements.
“This will test our judging panel, but I know they will relish the chance to get to know the stories behind some of these fabulous entries. We plan to publish the award shortlists in the first week of March, and then it’s full steam ahead to awards night itself on April 4th when we can find out this year’s winners.”
The Public Sector Catering Awards cover 18 different categories, which are:
- Armed Forces Caterer
- Care Catering
- Catering College
- Catering Manager of the Year
- Chef of the Year
- Contract Caterer of the Year
- Education Catering
- Health and Nutrition
- Hospital Catering
- Innovation
- Marketing
- Special Contribution
- Sustainability
- Team of the Year
- Training and Apprenticeship
- University Catering
- Unsung Hero
- Lifetime Achievement