Education catering specialist Taylor Shaw has won four awards and been highly commended for a fifth in the LACA North East & Scotland Awards for Excellence.
The company won the following:
Outstanding Achievement Award - Cathryn Wilson, Manager, Taylor Shaw;
Golden Rolling Pin Award - Gemma Allen, Stephenson Way Infants;
Management Team of the Year - Durham Area Management Team;
Award for Innovation - Durham Operational Team
Taylor Shaw was also highly commended for the Outstanding Achievement Award: Margaret McGregor, Cestria Primary.
Particularly celebrated was the Pumpkin Challenge, which won the Award for Innovation, with judges saying was one of the strongest submissions across all categories.
Launched at around a dozen schools in County Durham, the challenge used Jack-O’-Lantern carving and pumpkin cooking sessions as fun ways to get children to think about food waste, and how it can be reduced.
The team even got children to bring their old Jack O ’Lanterns in after Halloween so they could be converted into useful energy through anaerobic digestion.
Lynda Walker, Taylor Shaw general manager, said, “School catering is about so much more than putting food on a plate. From increasing meal uptake through themed lunches and educating children on where food comes from to engaging them in important issues like food waste – the team really has gone above and beyond. I’m delighted to see their passion and creativity recognised.”