Most recently, I was able to join industry friends and colleagues from across the UK at the Public Sector Catering Expo. This was such a worthwhile two days, and I enjoyed many thought provoking and challenging conversations not just from our speakers but from others I met, and spoke with, around the Expo itself.
A real highlight for me was to see and hear from some of the winners of our industry ‘Chefs of the Year’ competitions. Not only did they cook their amazing winning dishes for us, they also gave us a great insight into what led them into their careers, how they came up with their dishes and what their roles mean to them.
And the chat they had with our host, the amazing Si King, was both inspiring and really entertaining. Well done to all of our chef winners on really showing why we work in such a special industry.
I also really enjoyed visiting the stands of our exhibitors, meeting old friends and new, seeing product innovation and tasking some fantastic dishes and products.
This is one part of our industry I just love to make the most of: seeing how industry partners work to innovate and develop products and equipment specific to our needs is so important.
As I write this, Public Sector Catering magazine is in the process of announcing those who our industry are recognising as the Top 20 ‘most influential’ people, who come from right across various parts of the food system.
They are changemakers who champion, and challenge, our work so that we continue to improve the meals and services we provide. Congratulations to all of those on our list of the ‘most influential’ people.
And finally from me this month, you may have heard my personal news, that I am stepping into a new role in January, that of inaugural chief executive of the Scottish Food Commission.
Whilst I am excited, if a little daunted, to take on this new challenge, I am very sorry to step away from being chair of the Public Sector Catering Alliance.
It has been a privilege to work across our industry in this way for the past 12 months, and I think we have made some progress on a number of issues, but I'm leaving much not yet done.
I know that incoming chair, and current vice chair, Anita Brown will continue to build on the success of the PSC Alliance, and will take our organisation from strength to strength. I am looking forward to watching the continued growth of our sector, and to seeing it rightly recognised for the work you all undertake every day.
