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About Us

Now in its 36th year with a proud history behind it LACA -the school food people are still facing a challenging period ahead, as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic and seeks to help shape the Government agenda for the future of school food provision.

LACA was established in 1990 and is the leading professional body representing over 1000 members drawn from across the school food sector representing public sector and private contract caterers and suppliers to schools, academies and MATs across the UK.

Its members are providers of services to the education catering sector of England, Wales and Scotland (the Northern Ireland region is currently dormant).

Since its inception, LACA has set out to inform, develop, represent and support its members through a range of initiatives and services.  The membership is diverse, and includes public and private sector providers, client officers, dietitians and individual schools.  There are also 250 associate members who are jointly responsible for the supply of over £400m per annum of food, drink, equipment and services to the school catering sector.

LACA has continued to lobby Government and has proudly achieved the status of the organisation the Government consults with in developing policies for school food.

With over 300 local authorities, county, district councils and London Boroughs represented in the membership, 80% of the catering service is provided by LACA members.  And with around three million lunches being served every day in 27,000 schools, the LACA network is the country’s largest provider of school catering.

The organisation is a professional body, with members responsible for more than 110,000 staff employed in approximately 27,000 primary, special and secondary schools that provides services to local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales.  It draws on the strengths of its membership nationally, largely managed through members on a voluntary basis.

There is a continuing need for all involved to work together to meet the mandatory food standards that apply to the school catering service, and thus make a major contribution to the health of future generations, and to ensure the security of the service and staff employed by attracting as many customers as possible.

LACA is made up of 11 active regions and seven working committees.  It supports its membership by: involving members in a nationwide network; creating networking opportunities to facilitate the exchange of views and information; holding briefings, regional meetings, elearning, traded services and an annual training and development event that help to further the education and development of catering managers; operating a vibrant website (www.laca.co.uk), which includes a dedicated members-only section; and publishing an annual yearbook as an important reference source.

Meanwhile, each of the national committees has a specific set of aims, objectives and key representatives from the various regions.  These groups are: Membership, Finance & Administration, Events and Communications and Marketing.

LACA vision and mission Statement:

"Together, we achieve excellence in school food"

LACA Ltd aims to set high standards of professionalism in Education catering; to be the lead consultative body to the Government in delivering healthy eating policies and to equip education caterers with the necessary skills, knowledge and support which will enable them to meet the changing demands of the industry sector.

"We are here to give everyone who provides catering within the education sector a voice – as well as the knowledge, resources and support to make nutritious and healthy food part of everyday life.  We do this each day because great school food helps young people to thrive, concentrate, enjoy school and achieve more."

LACA FAQ

Why join LACA? Discover more about the benefits of LACA Membership

LACA Board of Directors

The Board is made up of the regional representatives together with the National Chair, the National Vice-Chairman, the Immediate Past Chairman and the Honorary Treasurer. The National Officers are elected from within the Board Members for a one year period of time - progressing from National Vice-Chairman to Chairman to Past Chairman - each volunteer committing three years to the national positions and ensuring continuity for the Association.

Board Members join one of four Working Groups - Events Group, Member Services Group, Communications Working Group or Finance & Administration Working Group. The Chair of each working group is elected by the Board (from the Board) for a period of two years.

The Working Groups have responsibility for various aspects of LACA activity (see later) and together with the National Chairman, the National Vice-Chairman and the Immediate Past Chairman form the National Steering Group.

National Steering Group

Role of the National Steering Group:

  • To recommend annual budget
  • To monitor operating costs
  • To let contracts and manage services when required
  • Income generation strategy
  • Assessment of individual working group expenditure proposed (The Board of Directors will agree the annual budget)
  • Co-ordinate LACA's response of national issues e.g. changes in legislation
  • Overview/review of Business Plan and Targets

* Note: Each Working Group Chair is required to develop a plan and review of work programme with associated budget for approval at the commencement of the year (January) by National Steering Group Committee and subsequently the LACA Board

Each Working Group Chair will manage, monitor and authorise payments to third party providers for services carried out against their committee budget. They will also be actively involved in drawing up tender specifications and documents (led by the Chair of F&A Working Group) when sub-contracted work is put out to the market place.

Why join LACA? Discover more about the benefits of LACA Membership


Why I'm a member:

Members of National Steering Group

National Chair
Real name
Education Catering Business Manager
The City & County of Cardiff

With over 20 years of dedicated service, Judith is the education catering business manager at Cardiff Council overseeing the education catering service, which provides over 28,000 meals to 116 schools. She trained as a home economist at the University of North London and has held significant roles at Marks and Spencer, Cardiff University, and the University of South Wales.

In 2005, she helped develop and then piloted the Welsh Government’s Free Breakfast Initiative, and in 2015, she helped pioneered and develop the award-winning ‘food and fun’ holiday pilot programme, adopted by the Welsh Government and is now implemented across all 22 Welsh local authorities. During the pandemic, Judith innovated a direct payment system for free school meal pupils across Cardiff. She represented education catering providers supporting the Welsh Government in the rollout of Universal Free School Meals for primary pupils in Wales.

Judith has served as treasurer and six years as regional chair for LACA Wales and is now the LACA national chair. Recognised as one of the UK Public Sector Catering’s Most Influential People in 2017, 2018, and 2025, Judith exemplifies leadership and commitment in the education catering industry.

National Vice Chair & Chair of Communications Group
Real name
Managing Director
Juniper Ventures Limited

Michael began his illustrious career in education catering in 1989 in Tower Hamlets, eventually becoming Head of Contract Services. In 2016, he founded the Juniper Group in Newham, which employs 750 staff and provides catering, cleaning, and health and safety services to schools and businesses across East London, providing social value. Juniper has received national recognition for management achievements and innovationMichael has earned accolades including a Catey award and Freeman of The City of London.  

A LACA supporter for over 30 years, Michael served as National Chair in 2018-19, lobbying MPs on junk food advertising near schools and UIFSM funding. He will become national chair again in September 2025 and champions the public sector on the Southeast regional committee for the Institute of Hospitality. 

A great advocate for universal free school meals for all pupils of all ages, he is determined to continue to do all he can to see this achieved before retirement beckons with a large gin and tonic with his wife on the beach in Spain. 

National Vice Chair Elect
Real name
Managing Director
CATERed Limited

Brad is the managing director of CATERed, a cooperative school meals provider in Plymouth, owned by over 60 schools and Plymouth council. Brad's career in local government began age 16 with Devon's trading standards team. He later took on client roles for Devon County Council during compulsory competitive tendering (CCT) in cleaning and school catering during the late 1980s. 

 A native of Plymouth, Brad joined Plymouth City Council after local government re-organisation in 1998, where he managed sales and marketing of services directly to schools. In 2007, he was appointed education catering manager, overseeing the school meals service during a transformative period and which led to significant government funding, the building of over 20 new kitchens, ending all transported school meals across the city and major refurbishment of the school kitchen estate. 

 Brad played a crucial role in the national School Food Plan, leading the small schools project across rural Devon and Cornwall. In April 2015, he launched CATERed, the UK's first cooperative school meals provider, ensuring all children have access to freshly prepared, locally sourced hot school food with a strong focus on building and maintaining regional food production and sourcing whether that be with dedicated local farms growing potatoes to locally caught and landed haddock.  CATERed now provide services in Plymouth, West Devon and South East Cornwall.  

Brad has been an active member of LACA since the early 1990s. He has served as regional chair for the South West Region, became a Board Member in 2018, was national Chair in 2022/23 and is currently the Vice Chair Elect.

Immediate Past Chair
Chair of Membership Group
Real name
Former HOS, Surrey
LACA Ltd

After completing a degree in Catering Management at the University of Surrey, Beverley joined Surrey County Council, rising to Head of Commercial Services, a post she held through periods of great change. She led a team providing 55,000 meals daily across 400 schools and additionally managed building, cleaning and school maintenance. She also served as Acting Assistant Chief Executive.

Beverley represented the school food industry working with Government on the development of the first nutrient-based standards for school food and was a Board Member of the Children’s Food Trust and the Institute of Hospitality. She is a recipient of a Public Sector Catey and a Public Sector Lifetime Achievement Award.

A LACA member since its inception in 1990, Beverley has served twice as National Chair contributing to the development and growth of the Association and is currently chair of member services, developing industry-specific products and services to support excellence in school food.

Chair of Events Group & Business Director
Real name
Operations Manager
BAM FM Limited

Neil has dedicated over 40 years to the education catering sector, beginning his career as a kitchen manager in a primary school in 1981. He advanced to the role of contract manager for Avon County, overseeing catering services for 475 schools. Following the local government reorganisation in 1995, Neil moved to Bristol City Council, where he became the head of service for catering and facilities. 

In 2005, Neil joined BAM Facilities Management (formerly HBG) to lead the mobilisation of a new build project comprising four secondary schools and a leisure centre. He eventually rose to the position of Director for the South of England, a role he has held for eight years. 

Neil's passion for school meals has been unwavering. He has been an active member of LACA since the mid-1990s and currently serves as the business director and chair of the events group. Additionally, Neil is the regional chair for the Institute of Hospitality (IOH) South West branch, where he strives to elevate the profile of public sector catering

Chair of Finance & Administration Group
Real name
Former HOS, Cambridgeshire
LACA Ltd

Following time spent in industrial catering, Hilary's career spanned 38 years in school catering. Firstly, in Essex rising to Deputy County Catering Manager (760 schools),  followed by Head of Services for Cambridgeshire County Council (350 schools). She successfully completed two rounds of compulsory competitive tendering (CCT) followed by best value legislation and established one of the first central cook-freeze factory units, ensuring quality meals for small rural schools. Her responsibilities also covered contracts for police, civic, and cleaning services for Cambridgeshire.  

Hilary founded LACA In 1988-89 and served as its first Chair. Stepping down from that she has continued as Honorary Treasurer, Finance Director and Chair of Finance & Administration.  

Hilary was awarded the first Blue Ribband for Cost Sector Catering in 1995 and the Public Sector Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. Both awarded in recognition of her years of service to school catering, establishing LACA and contributing to its continued development. 

Hilary has brought her experience to the Board of Directors since inception.