Rising food prices, increased labour costs and National Insurance contributions are pushing the school catering workforce to ‘breaking point’.
LACA says the future of school meals and the workforce that delivers them depends on immediate investment.
The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that the meal rate for both Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) and Further Education Free Meals (FEFM) will increase from £2.58 to £2.61 for
The LACA Awards aim to recognise individuals and teams who continue to make a ‘real difference’ in education catering.
Nadim and Tanya are the founders of The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, the UK’s food allergy charity.
The programme and features planned by organisers for this year’s Main Event will address the disparities in school meals funding across the four nations.
The 2025 LACA School Chef of the Year competition, is sponsored by Bisto, from Premier Foods. Regional final winners will each receive a £100 cash prize.
The Great School Lunch event aims to showcase what a modern day school meals looks and tastes like.
Being nominated for a LACA award gives a sense of prestige and honour at a personal level and raises the professional reputation of the organisation or school employing award winners.
The event will bring together industry professionals to discuss key issues facing school food provision, with a focus on funding disparities and ensuring high-quality meals for all children.