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.
The Public Sector Catering Alliance offers a collaborative forum and lobbying voice on issues of common interest across education, health and social care, prisons and the military. As chair Matt takes the lead on the alliance’s annual action points and in forming consensus views on issues of shared concern such as Government buying standards, allergens, obesity and recruitment and retention.
Since becoming PSCA chair he has introduced a new ‘constitution’ to regularise the way it is led and works and overseen a pan public sector highlighting the huge challenges caterers currently face in managing food and energy price rises, supply disruptions and staff shortages.
The immediate past chair of TUCO, he received an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for his work as TUCO chair and at the University of Reading, where he is currently director of student experience and education.
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