Birmingham City Council’s commitment to excellent catering service delivery was recognised at a national awards ceremony last week.
The authority’s Civic Catering function scooped the best service team honour at the APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) awards, staged in Derry on September 13.
Civic Catering landed the title after impressing judges with its work to meet the needs of the diverse Birmingham community as well as reducing its carbon footprint, offering work placements and apprenticeships and supporting the efforts of ethnic caterers within the city.
One of the most recent initiatives run by Civic Catering is ‘A Taste of the Caribbean’ – a challenge for local African-Caribbean catering firms, the best of which will be added to an approved suppliers list for people looking to stage events and ceremonies in the city.
At the forefront of the council’s hospitality provisions since 1947, Civic Catering in-house service provides refreshment not only to municipal meetings and events but also for functions staged by outside organisations – generating revenue for the local authority in the process.
Cllr Paul Tilsley, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “I am both pleased and proud that the council’s efforts in the field of catering have received the national recognition that they truly deserve.
“The Civic Catering team has gone the extra mile in recent years to ensure that the service it provides is the best it can be – in all respects from broadening its offer to be more relevant for citizens of all backgrounds through to offering training opportunities to young people and the use of Fairtrade produce.
“In terms of service, Civic Catering is setting an impressive benchmark for other parts of the council to reach.”
The other finalists in the category won by Birmingham included Bolton, Cardiff, East Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire Council and the Scottish Borders councils.
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. A document outlining the details of the awards submission is available upon request
2. APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) is a not for profit local government body working with over 300 councils throughout the UK. Promoting excellence in public services, APSE is the foremost specialist in local authority front line services, hosting a network for front line service providers in areas such as waste and refuse collection, parks and environmental services, leisure, school meals, cleaning, housing and building maintenance.
3. An image from the awards ceremony is available here
For further information contact Kris Kowalewski on 0121 303 3621
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