Wilson Vale secures contract with Hill House School in Doncaster

Previously operated in-house, the catering operation is now managed by a team of 13 Wilson Vale staff who feed 60 staff and 556 pupils, ranging in age from three to eighteen. Andrew Wilson, co-founder and managing director of Wilson Vale said: "Our fresh food approach is reaping benefits in terms of new business development. Independent schools have to be seen to provide the very best for their pupils. The challenges facing bursars are many, not the least of which is balancing cost against parents' increasingly high expectations. "Compromises have to be made but when it comes to food, it's got to be right because food can be an important issue for parents who demand traceability and sustainability, and who, quite rightly, want the best for their children. "At the very least, getting the food offer right can be a tremendous marketing tool for an independent school." Karen Kidney, bursar at Hill House, added: "We decided to make the change to Wilson Vale from in-house catering in the hope that we could benefit from their vast experience to improve the choice and quality of the food we already offer our children. I feel that it is imperative that we provide the children with a meal that is freshly prepared with locally sourced ingredients, nutritious and tasty. "One of the things that impressed me when I visited an existing school serviced by Wilson Vale was the variety of fresh menu options available on a daily basis therefore they felt like the right choice for Hill House. "The immediate impact was fantastic; we received so much positive feedback from children and parents alike. As we are still in the early stages of our relationship with Wilson Vale, we are all working hard on tailoring the service to suit the school and to ensure standards remain consistent."