The catering people business ethos is to provide equal opportunities for our staff and colleagues to work within a quality and creative environment. We encourage competition between our client sites and rewards are presented for effort and success. We regularly hold team nights out for colleagues to interact and socialise together.

Over 100 colleagues celebrated a gala evening together at a top location with many new organic and fair trade suppliers present during the day allowing us to taste the latest food and beverage products. The highlight of the evening was a special awards ceremony presented by the Directors with many trophies and high tech prizes.

Unit Manager of the Year award went to Chris Gray – he came out tops for consistently providing a great service generating first class client relations, being a good team leader and delivering exciting food and service. Chris has been with us for a couple of years and now currently runs our facility at Nottingham. Apart from being our No 1 he is also seeded No 1 in Nottinghamshire County for his badminton skills. A sociable animal he often entertains friends sumptuously with his culinary skills, his own favorite meal being steak diane and toblerone (though presumably not together). Runner up was Tina Freeman from Sheffield.

Mobile Manager of the Year – with so many units to look after we need staff who can not only cover for holidays and sickness but be there to step in at a moments notice – Vanda France was the winner in this category - she excels at creating a welcoming atmosphere even though she may only be at a unit for a short time. She creates confidence with the client – nothing phases her. In her spare time she organizes great parties and enjoys fancy dress (hence the attached outfit). She describes herself as BIG, LOUD and PROUD. Runner up Ian Grant.

Winner of the special Health and Safety Award was Kevin Gallagher who runs our first ever contract in Leeds. Kevin is an industry stalwart having done the lot – from fine dining to running his own 'chippie'. Highlight of his career (apart from this award of course) is that he organised and cooked a meal for the Queen. When not mixing with royalty, Kevin is a mean golfer and past captain of his club – his ambition is to watch the Masters in America – well, who knows what next years prizes might include!! Other nominations for this award were Keith Freemantle, Sue Farrow, Tina King and Donna Cartright.

Louise Edwards came out top for the Most Consistent or Improved Financial Performance award. Louise has developed exceptionally well and can be relied upon to deliver financial results which keep the client and ourselves happy.

Best Bookwork award went to Anthea Harris who manages Northallerton – keeping accurate records is vital and Anthea shows the way - the accounts office can’t fault her meticulous attention to detail – her stock records are an example to us all. Other nominations for this wards were Chris Gray, Martin Blake and Hilary Bonner.

999 Award – A special award to recognize effort above and beyond the call of duty or special performance - a difficult choice as everyone will put in the extra mile if needs be. There were several winners – Tina Freeman, Jackie Joelson, Alison Whittaker, Carl Concannon and a special mention of our purchasing specialist Geoff Varnham of Food Service Solutions who not only had organised the whole event but who only days previously had been literally washed out of his office during the floods – his award was, fittingly, a pair of green wellies!

Long Service Awards – we have only been around for 7 years but it was thought fitting that we recognize several who had been with us since those early days with just two contracts and a one room office. James Bashforth, Janice Speak, Margeret Sixsmith, Liza Gough, Pat Holmes, Carol Brittain, Dawn Thompson, Sue Harrison, Ian Grant, Mick Wood and Rob Kirkup.

Nominations for awards were made by our Operations managers – who each look after a number of sites.