In 2019, the Trust commissioned Red Box to manage a catering tender for their 6 primary schools in Bradford.

At the time, the catering operations were outsourced to the local authority caterer. The successful contractor introduced more fresh food produce, delivering higher quality food until they unfortunately went into administration during difficult times.  The catering operation was picked up by another contractor through an overnight sale by the administrators, although this contractor brought back in more frozen produce and tighter budgets which reduced the quality of food on the plate. Red Box supported the Trust with contract monitoring, applying pressure on the contractor to deliver on the tender promises, which resulted in an improvement, but it was clear the contractor was not a match for the Trust and their aims.

At the end of 2020, with our support, the Trust made the decision to bring the catering service in-house. Red Box supported the Trust with the recruitment of a Trust Catering Manager, as well as the mobilisation of the operation which included:

• the development of a full Food Safety Management System (HACCP).
• the development of Health and Safety risk assessments, as well as Safe Systems of Works (SoWs)
• the delivery of a Level 3 Food Safety refresher training for Catering Managers and Cooks, which was delivered by one of our associate consultants that also delivers our food safety training at the Houses of Parliament

We continue to support the Trust with food safety and service auditing of each school’s catering service.

If you are a Stakeholder within a Trust setting, and are looking for support on your catering- training, development, contract management, contract change- Red Box are here to help. Call us on 01423 810985 or email admin@redboxcs.com.