After completing my amazing term as LACA chair in 2024, I knew that I had an intense desire to carry on with the campaigning I had started. But, along with a boost in confidence (as if I needed it), I wanted to learn so much more about all areas of public sector catering.
And, knowing I have so much more to give, decided this might be the next step and was absolutely delighted to become vice chair to the amazing previous chair Jayne Jones.
Jayne has started a new post as chief executive of the Scottish Food Commission and we wish her all the very best in her new role. Although this has meant she had to step down as chair of the Alliance 11 months earlier than planned, but I have still learned so much from Jayne. She is a great mentor and her number is now on speed dial.
I have 40-plus years (I started very young) in public sector catering, predominately in school meals which is my biggest area of responsibility here in Stockton on Tees. But I have also worked for fire, police and events teams over the years, and have a small amount of care catering in my services too.
Although I am taking on the role earlier than expected, I am confident that with all the great chairs and colleagues in the NACC,TUCO, HCA, The School Food People, PACE and ASSIST-FM, I will get plenty of support and advice from you all as we navigate through our challenges while doing what we do best as public sector caterers.
It was a privilege to be among the chairs and the others who are this year’s ‘Most Influential’ Top 20 at the debate in the House of Commons at the end of January. As Jayne wrapped up on the last year’s agenda and topics update, it was time to be handed the baton and highlight what I feel, from the great debate, will be our agenda for the coming year.
Much discussion was around ‘how we get in the room’, in other words involved in the key conversations that affect us. Influencing change is very difficult unless we can be heard, consulted, and involved in these conversations, so it’s time to knock on some doors and be heard!
The first thing I will be continuing with will be progressing work to set up our own APPG for Public Sector Food, and I will be catching up with Sharon Hodgson MP very soon to pursue our attempt to get an MP on board to take the lead. This will be a great way to take our concerns and challenges forward and be heard.
Another key area I will be focusing on is workforce development. This is a challenge for us all, but together we must be able to help each other and look at what more we can be doing. There needs to be a focus on why young people are not coming into the sector as much, and how can we make it more enticing.
And, finally, I will continue to campaign and shout from the rooftops about the fragmentation on funding models across our all parts of public sector catering.
I am sure the forthcoming inquiry by the APPG on School Food will highlight the struggles we have in this area, and we look forward to supporting Sharon Hodgson in the coming months.
It was great to hear about all that is happening in all parts of the sector around the Government’s ambition of 50% of food served on public sector plates sourced from within the UK. I’m sure we will have much more to say around this as time goes by.
I know we all have the same challenges from funding, risks, allergens, and recruitment, to name but a few, but together we are a force to be reckoned with.
We are all so passionate about the services we deliver and work in the sector because we care so much about the children, young people, NHS patients, folk in care, those in prison, and the wonderful military who all need and value our public sector catering services.
And, as the new PSC Alliance chair, I can’t wait to work and learn alongside you all.
