School catering services

Tender description

The successful Supplier will be required to provide catering and hospitality services at Eckington School. Eckington School is a co-educational mixed community comprehensive school which was opened in September 1978. Our expectations are high and are summed up by the 3 words on our school badge: 'Respect, Progress, Succeed'. The School is situated has circa 1 200 pupils on a 42 acre site, above Eckington, in a delightful rural situation. At the rear of the School is a large expanse of woodland which includes part of the Sitwell Estate and the Moss Valley. The catering contract being offered will commence on 1.8.2017 for an initial period of 3 years, concluding on 31.7.2020, with the option to extend for a further term of up to 3 years and will be offered on a guaranteed performance basis. The projected revenue from catering for the current year is circa 305 000 GBP. The contract covers the scope for the provision of all catering within the School, which currently includes breakfast club, morning break, lunch, limited hospitality and free issue requirements. Free school meals and hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost. There are currently 2 kitchens and three primary service points. The School expects the successful contractor to enable the continued development of catering through the provision of an innovative, healthy food service, prepared on-site. Sufficient ‘local presence’ is required to ensure effective ongoing management of the contract throughout its term. The School intends to focus heavily on healthy, fresh, seasonal, locally sourced produce and sees the catering service as an exciting opportunity to complement the overall uptake, student and parent experience, through the regular introduction of new ingredients, themed and promotional events. The successful contractor will be required to play their part in acting as a catalyst for improvement of the pupil experience. A Cunninghams biometric cashless system is already in operation; there is a Plasma screen in the main reception, website, Twitter account, access to ‘SIMS InTouch’ and a parents’ newsletter, to access all interested parties in support of dynamic promotional activities. The School invites bidders to consider what capital investment they may provide in support of plans to improve the pupil meal experience, e.g. upgrade service crockery and cutlery, and generally create a more ‘high street retail’ meal experience.