Achievements
We have lots to celebrate across the Catering Team! Find out more below:
Praise from Prue - Back in 2021 celebrity chef Prue Leith, CBE praised the team for implementing tastier, more nutritious food for patients and staff. She also complimented the trust, for producing and serving the best food in the country for the 14th year out of 15 back in 2020. We take immense pride in our food and we’re always thinking of new recipes and ways to produce healthier dishes.
PLACE - We also consistently record strong results as part of the annual Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE) survey which looks at both food and service quality. Find out more about PLACE here.
Training - Encouraging our staff to further their knowledge and passion is a huge part of working in the Catering Team. From chefs to stores, it's important that everyone has the chance to thrive.
Stores Keeper Ryan Rogers completed the Level 2 Warehouse Operative Apprenticeship, earning a distinction in his final assessment. Ryan handles all our products and deliveries, ensuring that the department is always replenished and ready for operation. By doing this course, he was able to further his knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of logistics and stock control.
Our chefs are also encouraged to engage in various apprenticeships and courses. One in particular is HIT Training Production Chef Apprenticeship. During the course, chefs go into detail about producing food as safely and efficiently as possible. They explore new methods; recipes and ideas. This gives them the tools to ensure each day runs smoother than the last.
NHS Chef of the Year
We’re no stranger to challenging work and our various chefs on the team know how to show it. The NHS Chef of the Year competition is an annual competition that celebrates the passion, creativity, and skill of NHS caterers.
The heats are an incredible way to produce ideas and develop recipes that could benefit the quality and variety of food we provide.
For instance, Chef Gill Owen, who has competed twice, played a pivotal role in adding three new dishes to our regular menu. She later had the opportunity to visit the house of commons for a celebratory lunch with fellow NHS chefs from around the country. This event, celebrating 5 years of the NHS Chef of the Year competition, highlighted Gill’s contributions to the scheme.
Every year a new team takes on the challenge, and we thoroughly enjoy seeing them thrive in a high stake’s environment. Each member of staff brings back something different that they can apply to our everyday routines.
