The Public Sector Catering Awards will return to the Hilton London Metropole on Thursday 9th April 2026. There are 18 award categories, that represent all areas of the sector including education, healthcare, care homes, prisons, universities, the armed forces and catering colleges. In addition a Lifetime Achievement Award will be given out on the night.
If you are interested in booking a place at the awards ceremony, visit here. Tickets include a pre-dinner drinks reception on arrival (6.45pm), a three-course dinner (7.30pm), awards ceremony and after dinner entertainment until 1am.
The full shortlisted finalists for the 2026 Public Sector Catering Awards are:
Armed Forces Caterer of the Year Award (sponsored by Ecolog):
- SSgt (Staff Sergent) Daniel Butler
- AS1 (Air Specialist) Anthony Morris
- LCS (Leading Catering Services) Thomas Simpson
Care Catering Award (sponsored by Lakeland Dairies):
- Anas al Saadi – Macc Care
- Hospitality Team, Country Court Care Homes
- Meallmore
- Nigel Cook – Eastcote Park Care Home
- PJ Care Catering Team
- Sanctuary Care
Catering College Award (sponsored by Green Gourmet):
- Graham Taylor - Cambridge Regional College
- Paul Carne - Exeter College
Catering Manager of the Year Award (sponsored by Rational):
- Darren Klein – PJ Care
- Francesco Fiore – Milton Keynes University Hospital
- Jody Marshall -Meallmore
- Mark Lawrence – Chartwells Universities
- Robert Cormack – Guy’s & S Thomas’ Hospital
- Sgt Amee Lovely, RAF Wittering
Chef of the Year Award (sponsored by Unox):
- Andrew Bedwell – Peverel Court
- Darren Neal – White Oaks
- Karolina Morawiec – GMMH NHS FT
- Marius Toma – Signature Dining
- Michael King – Chartwells Universities
- Nedko Rusev – Guy’s & St Thomas NHS Trust
- Ronnel Nulud – ISS
- Stuart Fildes – Aramark
Contract Caterer of the Year Award (sponsored by Lockhart Catering Equipment):
- Nourish Contract Catering
- ESS
- Olive Dining
Education Catering Award (sponsored by Premier Foods):
- Blackpool Council Catering Services
- Bury Council - School Catering
- Catering Team - East Renfrewshire Council
- Citywide Services - Salford City Council
- Juniper Ventures
- NYES Catering - North Yorkshire Council
- Stir Food
- Scott Graham - Education Authority Northern Ireland
Health and Nutrition Award (sponsored by ACS)
- Catering Team - East Renfrewshire Council
- Education Catering - Cardiff Council
- Health & Independent Living Support
- Jody Marshall - Meallmore
- Valentina de Pascale - Palmer & Howells
Hospital Catering Award (sponsored by Hobart Service):
- Catering Department - Stepping Hill Hospital
- Francesco Fiore - Milton Keynes University Hospital
- Hampshire Hospitals Head Chefs
- Nedko Rusev - Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Trust
- Raouf Mansour - Ashford & St Peter's Hospitals
- RFL Property Service
Innovation Award (sponsored by Hobart UK):
- Angel Hill Food Co
- David Fradgley, Aramark
- Education Catering – Cardiff Council
- ESS Wild Venison Project
- Field to Fork Academy
- ISS Education & apetito
- Connect DPS Team
- SchoolGrid
- University of Strathclyde
Marketing Award (sponsored by Radnor):
- Love British Food
- Aramark
- Elygra / Knowsley Council
- LSE
- Juniper
- Signature Dining
- HCL
- ISS
Prison Catering Award (sponsored by Winterhalter):
- HMP Portland Catering Team
- Ian Moore - HMP North Sea Camp
- Nigel Pitcher - HMP Bristol
- Roland Ward - HMPPS
- Steve Johnson - HMP Ranby
- Victoria Nettleship - Hull Catering Team
Special Contribution Award (sponsored by Middleton Foods):
- Andrew Knight – MoJ
- The Food Foundation as part of The School Food Review Coalition
- Teresa Pym – Simply Serve Yeovil
Sustainability Award (sponsored by apetito):
- Andrew Cowan – Bury Council
- Derek James – Simply Serve
- Dunsters Farm
- ESS
- Harper Adams University
- Impact Food Group
Team of the Year Award (sponsored by Essential Cuisine):
- Catering Team@Ravenscliffe High School
- Chartwells Universities & University of Sussex
- Hospitality Team @ Country Court Care Homes
- Loughborough University
- Meallmore
- NHS Supply Chain
- NYES Catering
- Paige Ward & AIP Catering Team
- Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Catering Team
Training and Apprenticeship Award (sponsored by Brakes):
- Andy Cullum - The iddsi Guy
- Daniel Phillpott - Care UK
- Forward with Marcus Wareing
- Joshua Astall - Simply Serve
University Catering Award (sponsored by TUCO):
- UAL/Baxter Storey
- Chartwells/University of Sussex
- Harper Adams
- University of Chester
- Loughborough University
- University of Brighton
Unsung Hero Award (sponsored by Redbull):
- Andrew Knight - Ministry of Justice
- Jane Hindmarch & Liam Lane - ISS
- Jermaine Edwards - ISS Facility Services
- Keachan Hall - St Vincent's House
- Mathew Shropshall - UCB College of Food
- Mike Daley - Medirest
- Millie Morgan - NHS Supply Chain
- Roland Ward – HMPPS
