Catering needs unified approach to benefit from opportunities in 2012

The rallying call was made when the Top 20 Public Sector 'Most Influential' caterers gathered at the House of Commons to address key issues. The consensus view was that the industry had to work together if it really wanted to get the ear of Government and make a difference. Brian Wisdom, chief executive of People 1st, summed up the feeling: "The next two years as an industry is our time. We have the Olympic Games and a focus on hospitality and tourism in a way that's never been done before. "This is the time we can elevate our reputation. But that won't happen by having a myriad of fragmented initiatives that don't actually demonstrate our social responsibility to the future of the nation. "If we can do that, we stand a chance of actually changing the industry's reputation as a place to go for great careers and as an educator of our kids as well. "And that's what we have to embrace over the coming months as we have a window of opportunity that may never come around again." The Top 20 Public Sector 'Most Influential' caterers is organised each year by Cost Sector Catering magazine and judged by an independent panel of industry experts. * For a full report of the Top 20 round table discussion see the February issue of Cost Sector Catering.