In the last 18 months we have recruited 22 new Members. A combination of lapsed Members returning to the fold, having recognised the developments we have been making, and new companies who haven’t in the past been able to recognise the value and relevance of ceda.

The April Conference, Technical Conference, Regional Meetings, BIM training courses and Academy meetings have seen us physically engage with over 600 people from Members, Partners and invited guests in 2018. This shows growth and is really pleasing to see.

Our growth in terms of visibility and profile has been good, particularly the focus on video marketing which is proving incredibly positive in our engagement with end-users and operators.

ceda has continued to develop their service offering and the increased technical support and training have been particularly popular.

We are approaching the end of a busy, challenging but enjoyable year and I am most grateful for the work of Adam and the ceda office team, the expertise of our third-party service providers and the time, commitment and guidance of the Board in making all this possible.

But most importantly, you the Members who continue to collaborate, support and engage with each other and your Association.

Our plans for 2019 are quite incredible and we look forward to sharing them with you in the New Year.

May I wish you, your staff and your families a happy and peaceful Christmas and I look forward to seeing you in 2019.

Jack Sharkey, ceda Chairman

We are ceda. And our members keep the foodservice and catering industry on track.

They repair and replace equipment. They maintain and service. They train, inform and advise the industry.

The improve efficiency, reliability. And profitability. And when things go wrong. They react.

From education to hospitality. From healthcare to fine dining. Every sector. Every situation. Every eventuality. They keep your business running.

Connect. With a ceda specialist.

It’s no over-exaggeration to say service engineers are an integral part of any commercial kitchen operation. If equipment breaks down it has the potential to halt service or even temporarily close a kitchen. In a hospital or school environment, where for vulnerable patients and students, and staff, this is their only food resource, this simply isn’t an option.

Investment in equipment maintenance and breakdown contracts is therefore essential.

In an attempt to show how ceda Members keep the foodservice and catering industry on track, the trade organisation have put together a short video that it hopes will provide an understanding of the benefits and advantages of dealing with a ceda Member.

Many ceda Member organisations have dozens, in some cases 100s, of service engineers on the road every day looking after every element of equipment found in a commercial kitchen. From John o’Groats to Lands End they cover the breadth of the country repairing, replacing, maintaining and servicing equipment in educational, hospitality, healthcare and fine dining establishments. It’s estimated there are nearly 1000 ceda engineers!

“Our service engineers really are the unsung heroes of the foodservice and catering industries.” says Adam Mason, Director General of ceda. “Without them businesses and organisations from the local cafe to the Michelin starred restaurant and every other facility with commercial catering equipment would suffer. This Christmas period we urge business owners and Facilities Mangers, particularly those in the hospitality sector who will be gearing up for the their busiest period, to contact their equipment suppliers and book a maintenance service.”

Please click through to the ceda YouTube channel and subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss future videos from ceda..

The annual ceda Regional Meetings took place earlier this month (Southern Meeting on 14th November, Northern Meeting on 21st November), with 37 Member organisations attending overall, and record attendance at the Southern meeting!

It was pleasing to see, not only established Members amongst the delegates, but many of our newer Members too. Berkeley Projects, KCCJ, Scobie McIntosh and Sprint all sent representatives and threw themselves into the discussions and networking opportunities the meetings provided.

Both meetings began with an Open Forum for Members to discuss issues with their peers. This was an opportunity for Members to share best practice with one another and offer help and advice where possible, as well as a chance to raise concerns with us, that we can investigate on behalf of our Members. It gives us insight into what issues are affecting our Members and how they do business, and how we can support them going forward. Industry and supplier issues were brought to our attention which we will now look into further and provide feedback on when we have it.

Adam Mason gave a short presentation proving updates on Being ceda & Sustainability Pledge, the ceda Academy, Marketing and Social, ceda videos, BIM Training, ceda Safe (safety schemes in procurement for the catering equipment industry), the 2019 ceda Conference and Grand Prix Awards.

Three short supplier presentations followed. At the Southern Meeting we heard from Welbilt UK, Hoshizaki UK and First Choice Catering Spares Ltd. In the North, Hobart UK, Mechline Developments Ltd and Electrolux Professional presented.

The morning sessions concluded with a technical update from Peter Kay. He spoke of the Technical Support available from ceda covering:

Guidance on Best Practice including Guidance Documents and Standard Documents, all of which can be found in the Members Area of the ceda website;

Help with Problems including specific, individual help – often from other Members, common problems – customers who ignore ‘At Risk’ notices, engineer training – shortage of good engineers;

Information which covered the Technical Conference 2018, key priorities including recruitment from the military, and the development of a new apprenticeship standard for a Catering Equipment Technician.

After a networking lunch, the afternoon sessions were made up of presentations from Caterquotes, Tim Knowles and RAMCO.

Paul Shaw from Caterquotes spoke of Technology Solutions for the Catering Industry and new initiatives currently in development.

Tim Knowles talked about safety provisions including asbestos, fire consideration in construction, and creating and maintaining safety cultures.

RAMCO gave an insightful presentation on solutions to dispose of surplus catering equipment.

The meetings closed with some final words from Adam Mason on the ceda Membership – recruitment, rentention and size, ceda Conference 2019 – venue, dates and business day programme, and an e-learning update.

Back in the summer, we told you about a Trailblazer group of 11 ceda Members who were developing a new apprenticeship standard for a Catering Equipment Technician.

With the help of an advisor from the Institute of Apprenticeships, the group submitted a draft proposal for a Catering Equipment Technician. The initial proposal included details of the essential duties and tasks that need to be undertaken when servicing and maintaining catering equipment. The proposal was accepted earlier this month and means the group can now develop the next steps of the apprenticeship scheme.

The second phase that needs to be designed as part of the standard is made up of two parts;

1. To agree the knowledge, skills and behaviours required in a Catering Equipment Technician to fulfil the duties and tasks set out in the initial proposal.
2. To develop an end point assessment that will determine whether the apprentice has gained the required knowledge, skills and behaviours and can competently carry out the necessary duties and tasks. The assessment can be practical or written but must be carried out by an independent, registered assessor or organisation.

The knowledge, skills and behaviours were agreed by the Trailblazer group, now consisting of 14 ceda Members and other interested parties, on 22^nd November.

A small sub-section of the group will meet on 17^th December to determine the end point assessment plan, which will then be put to the rest of the group and submitted early in the New Year.

It is hoped the entire apprenticeship standard process will be accepted and finalised by May 2019. Whilst the apprenticeship will be open to all, the hope is that this time-frame will catch school and college leavers.

If you would like to know more about the apprenticeship standard, or want to become part of the Trailblazing Group, please contact ceda Technical Support Advisor, Peter Kay, peterkay@ceda.co.uk.

We’re delighted to announce that Berkeley Projects have joined ceda as a new Member.

Berkeley Projects was formed in 1972. Since then we have become one of the leading design and construction management companies.

Our work ranges from major corporate and hotel fit outs through to the supply of individual items of equipment. We plan and implement complete catering projects working with specialist teams to ensure compliance with budget, regulation and timescale.

We can combine the requirements of food service with contemporary or classic designs to provide practical solutions.

Project Manager at Berkeley Projects Oliver Tuff commented, “Berkeley Projects are pleased to become members of ceda. With a younger team progressing through the business, ceda offers a great way to provide various training modules & opportunities. It provides a level of experienced resource & expertise, together with opportunities to network with other members and key ceda suppliers. These benefits will help us provide an enhanced service to our clients.”

Find out more about Berkeley Projects at www.berkeleyprojects.co.uk.

We are delighted to announce that Arolite Ltd have joined ceda as a Service Member.

Arolite is a privately owned business that’s small enough to care, yet big enough to deliver. They have an experienced and dedicated team, who share the company values of credibility, honesty and delivery – they aim to add value through high standards of service, knowledge, expertise and efficiency, and they work openly with their customers and each other to fulfil their commitments.

Arolite have the experience, both technical and client-based, to understand the demands of managing a busy catering operation. Their unrivalled mix of specialist knowledge advanced IT systems, communication infrastructure and focused delivery, makes them the ideal support partner for all major and multi-site commercial food & beverage operations.

On the decision to join ceda Arolite Commercial Manager, Bryn Vivian, comments “Joining ceda provides us with the opportunity to get to know existing partners better and to forge some new relationships. Being part of an industry association gives us additional credibility which is a key feature of the way Arolite works and behaves. It also offers another channel of information regarding the latest regulations and market trends.”

Find out more about Arolite Ltd on their website: www.arolite.co.uk

18 months ago, ceda set out on a mission: to refocus, grow its membership and reach the wider catering and foodservice industries with its message ‘Connecting Our Industry’. ceda’s “transformation” (as described by Catering Insight in September 2018) also included a re-branding, new marketing strategy and investment in membership services all of which are working together to strengthen the ceda brand and encourage new and old Members to join the trade organisation.