7 Day Catering has today announced the promotion of Lindsey Buckley as its new human resources director.
Ms Buckley was previously training and human resources manager and joined the contract catering company in 2004. She is directly responsible for a team of five HR and payroll staff and for providing comprehensive HR support to a diverse workforce of 1,100.
Commenting on her appointment Ms Buckley said: "I am delighted to have secured this important appointment. I am really excited by the challenges of the role and am looking forward to working with the senior management team."
A Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, she has a wide range of knowledge and experience of the foodservice industry. She has worked at Whitbread where she joined their graduate recruitment programme, as well as Catering Alliance and Aramark.
Her new role will focusing on further developing HR strategies for the organisation, including Investors in People and ISO 9001, together with creating a framework for future training programmes.
She continued: “I feel very strongly about endorsing our commitment to our workforce through our accreditations. They underpin 7 Day Catering’s core values, which are fundamental to creating an environment that allows people to excel. For me, it’s not about the ‘badge” its about investing and developing our people to help them go on and do more, ultimately giving us a competitive edge. Accreditations are a very public way of letting everyone know just what we have achieved.
“Moving forward, we are now working on leadership motivation, induction and education programmes, aimed at developing our catering managers who are at the forefront of our offering. It’s amazing how powerful a good manager can be to any catering team.”
Speaking on her appointment, Henry Watts, managing director at 7 Day Catering said: “Lindsey has become an integral part of the 7 Day team and has overseen all the training and development requirements of team members across the company whilst also restructuring and continuously developing the HR function to accommodate the rapid expansion of the company. This is a crucial position within 7 Day Catering, we need to attract and retain the best people to deliver the best service, and Lindsey will make that happen."
Healthy eating programme receives top accolade
7 Day Catering and Debenhams are celebrating after picking up an award for their healthy eating initiative from Peterborough Primary Care Trust (PCT).
The award recognises the efforts made on behalf of 7 Day Catering to ensure that all members of staff at Debenhams, one of the 150 contracts they run across the UK, have access to healthy eating options in their restaurant.
Peterborough Primary Care Trust (PCT) recently launched their “Healthy Weight Peterborough” campaign to get the region in better shape and the people of Peterborough fighting the battle of the bulge.
Catering manager at 7 Day Catering, Christina Folkes comments on the accolade: “The PCT got in touch with us to see how our Healthy 4U programme was helping people make healthier choices. They conducted a study of our offering in the workplace at Debenhams and we then went on to win the award.
“We’re absolutely delighted to have our efforts recognised. Through improved communication, leaflets and marketing directly to the customer, as well as best practice cooking techniques we can offer some of the healthiest food in the workplace.
“Our Healthy 4U programme is based on key Government reports aimed at reducing the intake of fat, sugar and salt whilst increasing dietary fibre. Grilling rather than frying, using polyunsaturated rather than saturated fats, wherever possible introducing fibre into dishes, and offering vegetarian meals is the ethos behind the programme.“
Figures compiled by Peterborough PCT show that the City’s waist is expanding to a dangerous size, with more than 26,000 people in the city classified as obese, and just over 2000 as morbidly obese.
Jean Hughes, obesity consultant, Peterborough PCT, said, “Obesity can shorten life expectancy by up to nine years and can lead to an increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, some cancers, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, respiratory disorders, osteoarthritis, psychological problems, sleep disorders, gallstone and muscular problems, such as back pain.
“With two out of three adults in Peterborough overweight or obese, this is a serious public health issue. We need to heighten peoples’ awareness of overweight and obesity, and their associated risks, but more than that we need to work in partnership across the city to create a healthy weight Peterborough. This issue is bigger than just health.”
Healthy Weight Peterborough aims to not only reduce obesity, but to improve the health of local residents through a co-ordinated programme of activities which:
Raises awareness and understanding of the principles of healthy eating and the levels of activity required to maintain a healthy weight
Facilitates healthy choices so that healthy eating and active lifestyles are the easier options, particularly for disadvantaged groups
Ensures that people delivering healthy eating and physical activity advice and interventions to support weight management have the appropriate skills, knowledge, and understanding.
Home Bake Winning Recipe
Sam Small, a chef from 7 Day Catering’s restaurant at Lakes College in Cumbria has taken the inaugural title of the Home Bake Challenge 2008.
Home Bake Challenge was set up by independent contract caterers, 7 Day Catering, to highlight the wealth of baking talent across the UK.
The 30 year old beat contestants Kenn Payne and Ros Sharpe who took second and third places, with his gorgeous Cape Rum Cake to take the top spot.
Sam’s recipe impressed the judges, Henry Watts, managing director and Mark Johnson, sales director of 7 Day Catering. Sam’s recipe will be published in 7 Day Catering’s annual Home Bake Recipe Book, which is distributed to all caterers across the company and will also appear on their website giving everyone the opportunity to try it for themselves.
Presenting the award, Karl Ellis, operations manager for Lakes College, Workington commented on Sam’s triumph: “Sam is a talented chef and I was absolutely thrilled that he managed to take this culinary accolade.
“He beat off stiff competition to take the award, and I was really impressed by the imaginative recipes and clever combinations of different flavours and ingredients many of the contestants used.”
Sam, who lives in Workington commented: “I’m amazed, I really can’t believe I won. I’m sure everyone who tries this recipe will enjoy it. The cape rum cake really deserved to win, it’s sweet and fruity and can be served either hot with fresh cream or cold as home bake. Absolutely delicious.”
Fruit mix – 2lb Mixed dried fruit and nuts
3pts Boiling water
6tsp Bicarb
2tbsp Vanilla essence
Camp coffee (optional)
Syrup – 6oz Cater sugar
2oz Honey
60z Demerara sugar
6floz Water
2tbsp Rum essence
Mix together syrup ingredients bring to foil and simmer for 5 mins.
Place fruit mix in boiling water and leave to soak for 10 mins.
Blitz with a blender until a smooth mixture is achieved.
Beat together butter and sugar until light, add eggs gradually, fold in the flour, gradually add fruit mix.
Place in a lined baking tray, cook at 180° for approximately 1¼– 1½ hrs until firm to the touch remove from oven brush with syrup using a pastry brush evenly over cake, allow to cool.
Cut into portions.
This cake can be served hot and fresh cream or cold as home bake.
Recipe by Sam Small – Chef @ Lakes College, Workington, Cumbria.
