Latest News

Northumberland pub steps in to save school lunch service

23 February 2012

The pupils of Wark First School in Wark, near Hexham in Northumberland, are enjoying a menu of freshly-prepared lunches thanks to a link-up with nearby Battlesteads Pub, Hotel and Restaurant.

Following funding cut backs from the Local Education Authority (LEA), the school had to make the decision to close its kitchen and make its part-time cook redundant so head teacher Amanda Lewis needed to find an alternative solution.

The team at multi-award winning Battlesteads came to the rescue and they're now providing meals for the 30 children at the school every day.

AiP wins catering contract at Sutton Coldfield secondary school

23 February 2012 | London Region

Award-winning education catering providers Alliance in Partnership (AiP) has won a new contract with a Sutton Coldfield secondary school.

The company has been awarded a three-year contract with Bishop Walsh Catholic School, which caters for 1034 pupils aged 11-18.

Business manager Dawn Knott said: "We impressed with AiP's track record and company ethos. We're really looking forward to working with them and developing our food service offer throughout the school campus."

LACA national summit addresses key concerns

20 February 2012

Around 100 delegates met at the Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth on Friday, February 17th for the first LACA National Seminar of 2012.

Welcomed by national chair Lynda Mitchell, the assembled delegates were keen to hear from speakers on some of the most pressing issues the association is facing this year, with thoughts and feedback following the event to lead into the National Training and Exhibition event in July.

Hampshire freezes school meals prices for fourth year

3 February 2012 | South West Region

The Hampshire County Council’s Catering Service has announced that the price of its school meals is to be kept the same for the fourth consecutive year.

Councillor Roy Perry, Hampshire County Council's deputy leader and executive lead member for children's services, approved the maintaining of the price of school meals at its current level of £2 per meal.

The council says that around 7 million meals are likely to be served in Hampshire's primary schools by the end of the school year based on the current take-up.

Equal pay justice – UNISON and Bury Council come to historic agreement

3 February 2012

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, and Bury Council have reached an agreement to settle nearly one thousand low paid women council workers’ equal pay claims.

The women, who do vital jobs such as caring, cleaning, and cooking, were paid less than their male colleagues, for doing work of equivalent value.

Bury was the first council that UNISON targeted with mass litigation for equal pay in 2007 – after it was the last council in Greater Manchester to take the issue seriously.

The union estimates that the council has wasted more than £1 million of public money by fighting the

The Guild of Food Writer’s CookIt! Competition returns

1 February 2012

The Guild of Food Writers has announced details of its annual cookery competition - CookIt! - and is now searching for young cooks across the country to take part.

First prize is a week's family holiday in Cornwall and the winning child's school will win £100 worth of book vouchers.

With the theme 'Going for Gold', young cooks are asked to create a winning two course meal - main meal and pudding - for a favourite sports person. Entrants, aged from 10 to 14 on Friday 31 August 2012, are encouraged to get involved.

North Yorkshire County Council launches labelling technology for schools

31 January 2012 | Yorkshire and Humberside region

North Yorkshire County Council has introduced new labelling technology to help schools cut costs and promote healthy eating.

The system, developed by Sheffield-based retail and solutions specialist FormKraft, also helps keep pupils on-site during breaks, by offering informative packaging on the 350,000 packaged sandwiches, salads, fruit and meals sold each year.

The equipment is helping to streamline labelling on sandwiches and other products in North Yorkshire's school dining halls and save around £10,000 over the next three years.

Under the previous system, food label

Pupils from Croydon schools to take part in food waste pilot scheme

30 January 2012 | London Region

Pupils from five Croydon schools are being given the chance to make even more of a positive impact on the environment.

Recycling in Croydon entered a new phase last year when the domestic food-waste collection service was introduced.

Food that had previously been sent to landfill, producing damaging methane gas as it degraded, is now collected from households and recycled into compost to be used in food production on farms.

The next stage will reward the pupils of five schools who have displayed a proactive attitude to recycling, with the chance to participate in a 12-w

Schools invited to cook for the Queen

26 January 2012

To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, British Food Fortnight is inviting all schools in the UK to create a special menu to be served to The Queen and The Duchess of Cornwall in June.

The top four winning schools will be invited to Buckingham Palace in June to see their menus prepared by the famous Royal Chef.

AiP wins five year catering contract with Worcestershire school

25 January 2012 | West Midlands Region

Award winning education caterers Alliance in Partnership (AiP) has won a new five-year catering contract with a Worcestershire school.

Birchensale Middle School in Batchley has chosen AiP to provide meals for its 398 pupils.

Business manager Pauline Begley said: "We were impressed by AiP's green credentials, inventive menus and inclusive attitude and look forward to working with them."

David Weller, managing director for AiP added: "We are extremely pleased to have won this contract and have lots of new and exciting ideas to contribute to Birchensale Middle School."