Defra are interested in hearing from people involved across the supply chain in sectors where the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services (GBSF) currently applies. This includes central Government departments, NHS England Hospitals, the Armed Forces and HM Prison and Probation Service.
The workshops will be broken into four themes:
- Procuring local, healthy, sustainable food in the public sector
- Supporting smaller businesses in accessing public sector food procurement opportunities
- Encouraging partnerships between wholesale, food distribution and small and local suppliers
- Inspiring change in public sector food and catering
Defra are interested in hearing from anyone involved in public sector food and catering, including food and drink suppliers, procurers, estates and facilities managers, chefs and catering managers.
You can register your interest in joining the workshops here, or by emailing food.procurement@defra.gov.uk. The form will close on Friday 22nd April, and Defra will then get in touch with respondents inviting them to workshops.
Defra Minister Victoria Prentis urged caterers throughout the public sector to get involved and provide feedback in its consultation on Government Buying Standards when she gave a virtual speech at the Public Sector Catering Expo on 15 March 2022.