The Awards for Excellence aim to recognise individuals and teams who continue to make a ‘real difference’ in education catering.
The School Food People believes that good management, strong performances and high achievements deserve to be recognised and it is particularly important to not only reward but sustain motivation.
New for the 2026 edition of the Awards for Excellence, the Outstanding Supplier of the Year category has been split into two sections one for companies with more than 250 employees and one for organisations with less than 250. Nominations for the awards will close at noon on Friday 24th April 2026.
There are 12 award categories available for nominations including:
- The School Food People & Natasha Allergy Research Foundation Allergy Management Award: Nominees must be able to show exceptional practice in the management of allergens within the workplace, including working practices, record keeping, staff training and signposting.
- The School Food People Apprentice/Trainee Award: The nominee will have to illustrate what the impact of the training outcomes are following the programme and how the learning has been successfully implemented and embraced by colleagues, the workplace and ultimately improving client satisfaction.
- The School Food People Catering Business of the Year Award: This award is looking to recognise the top-performing catering business in the school meals sector.
- The School Food People Primary School Catering Team of the Year Award: This award aims to give recognition to a primary school based catering team which has made an outstanding contribution to raising the profile of education catering within the school and/or its local community.
- The School Food People Secondary School Catering Team of the Year Award: This award aims to give recognition to a secondary school based catering team which has made an outstanding contribution to raising the profile of education catering within the school and/or its local community.
- The School Food People Marketing Award: Effective marketing is an important function in any organisation’s success and this is certainly true within the school catering industry.
- The Nan Berger Memorial Award: This award is in recognition of Nan Berger and of her exemplary work in the field of innovation, accreditation and/or collaboration which has led to a successful result either with increased meal uptake or raising the profile of the school catering service.
- The School Food People Unsung Hero Award: This award is looking to celebrate those unsung heroes within the school catering industry.
- The School Food People Region of the Year Award: This award aims to recognise the great work done in the regions at the grassroots level of the Association.
- The Roger Davis Outstanding Achievement Award: It is awarded to the person who has, above all others, demonstrated outstanding levels of service and commitment and made an enormous contribution to local authority catering.
- Outstanding Supplier of the Year - SME (Small/Medium Enterprises as defined by < 250 employees: This award is in recognition of a The School Food People partner or associate member who has consistently maintained the highest level of support and service excellence to the education catering sector.
- Outstanding Supplier of the Year - > 250 employees: The winning supplier will not only have demonstrated a fundamental appreciation of the requirements of local authority catering and exceptional commitment but a significant degree of loyalty, active involvement and an immeasurable contribution to the future development and growth of education catering.
Entries will be judged during May with the shortlisted nominees notified in early June. The winners will be revealed at the Awards for Excellence dinner taking place on the evening of Wednesday 8th July during the School Food Show & Forum.
For more details on each category, download the nomination brochure below.