Royal National College for the Blind

Tender description

The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) is honoured to be the UK’s leading specialist residential College of further education for people with a visual impairment. Since 1872, RNC have been building on their expertise and successes, which enable the College to offer a variety of products and services to a diverse audience. It’s not all about education for the 80 or so learners who come through the doors each year – the College also offer specialist training and support to businesses and other education providers and specialist professionals working with visually impaired people. The successful tenderer will be required to provide all catering services at Royal National College for the Blind, and to develop and significantly grow the food and beverage provision at the pod therefore increasing its profitability. Lot 1: The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) is honoured to be the UK’s leading specialist residential College of further education for people with a visual impairment. Since 1872, RNC have been building on their expertise and successes, which enable the College to offer a variety of products and services to a diverse audience. It’s not all about education for the 80 or so learners who come through the doors each year – the College also offer specialist training and support to businesses and other education providers and specialist professionals working with visually impaired people. From philanthropic beginnings in London to Shropshire, via a brief stay in Kent as World War II broke, to finally settling in Hereford, RNC has remained a beacon for people with a variety of visual impairments to increase their independence, build confidence and to learn academically, vocationally and socially. The Royal National College for the Blind is a College with a difference and their aim is simple: to empower their Students with the skills, confidence and independence they need to realise their potential and take the next step towards their future. RNC is big enough to provide all the opportunities, resources and support students are looking for, but small enough to offer an individual and special learning experience. The Royal National College for the Blind is the UK’s leading specialist residential College for people aged 16+ who are Blind or visually impaired. With over 140 years’ experience, the College stands firm in its original aim to enable each and every student to achieve their potential and engage fully in their community. RNC vision people with visual impairment have true equality. RNC Mission Education, employment and empowerment for people with a visual impairment. Since 2007 the College has owned and operated a sports centre and gym that is open seven days a week to members of the public. As part of this facility there is a pod area serving food and beverages to the users of the centre, staff and students, and visitors to the College. The College also run a number of conferences and events during the year for which the successful tenderer will be required to provide catering services. The successful tenderer will therefore be required to provide all catering services at Royal National College for the Blind, and to develop and significantly grow the food and beverage provision at the pod therefore increasing its profitability. The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 1 June 2021 until 31 May 2024, with the option to extend the contract term for a further term of up to 2 years and will operate as a guaranteed performance contract, with the successful contractor offering the College a guaranteed cost per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with Royal National College for the Blind for the duration of this contract. The College year is based on a calendar of 36 weeks for students, however the sports centre and gym are open to the public 52 weeks. The catering service for students can be reduced in non-term time, however a service will be required for any conferences and events, and a full service will still be required for catering to the public from the coffee pod. There are up to 80 students who are residential students and who reside within the College for 5 or 7 days per week, over 36 weeks per annum. These students will receive, as part of their daily meal entitlement, the following provision: • lunch; • evening meal. In addition, student self-catering breakfast provisions are sent to the halls, which are to be supplied by the successful contractor. Approximately 20 students receive a self-catering allowance for an evening meal with approximately half of them having an additional allowance for two lunchtime meals at a weekend. Please download the SQ document for more information.