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.

A hot topic discussed at the recent ceda Technical Conference was Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems. The session provided an update on the types and uses of fire suppression systems in commercial kitchens, as well as new developments and the future direction for protection.

To follow up from the Conference, at the Fire Safety North exhibition, held 9th-10th October in Manchester, BAFE officially announced their latest scheme to be made available for third party certification assessment.

BAFE, the independent register of quality fire safety service providers, have been developing over the last two years BAFE SP206, a new third party certification scheme that covers the design, installation, commissioning, recharge and maintenance of kitchen fire suppression/extinguishing systems.

Fire industry/insurance data reveals food and drink related fires are statistically the third most likely cause of large fires, also accounting for nearly 10% of all large loss fires. Fires involving restaurants and cafes represent some 42% of all fires within the food and drink sector put together.

Chris Auger, Schemes Manager, stated: “Third Party Certificated competence for contractors providing kitchen fire protection system works has been sadly missing in the UK, and something we felt was essential to address. End users and procurement specialists should have access to demonstrably competent providers for kitchen fire protection systems. We are delighted to officially announce the scheme at the Fire Safety North event.”

Developed with industry experts from Ansul, Amerex and Nobel Fire Systems, alongside Certification Bodies NSI and BSI, and chaired by Dr. Jim Glockling of the FPA, this scheme enhances the level of quality for these specific works to ensure a safer working kitchen environment but also to aid in the reduction of kitchen fires escalating to an uncontrollable and dangerous situation.

“Providers of kitchen fire protection systems who wish to provide robust evidence of competency to their clients, will be able to obtain independent third party approval certificated to the new BAFE SP206 scheme. NSI was delighted to be invited by BAFE over 18 months ago to help develop this ground-breaking scheme, a first in the UK fire market. In commercial property It has the undeniable potential to significantly reduce the risk to life associated with fire as well as protecting property from fire and associated consequential loss arising from poorly protected and unprotected kitchen environments.” – John Davidson, Head of Field Operations (Systems)

The BAFE Kitchen Fire Protection Systems (SP206) Scheme will be available for third party certification assessment via NSI. Please visit the BAFE website for more information www.bafe.org.uk.

We are delighted to welcome another new ceda member.

Scobie McIntosh, a business that has passed through six generations of family leadership, now finds itself at the forefront of delivering services and innovation to the food service industry on an international scale from supermarkets and hotels to bakeries and cafes.

The business today has key competencies spanning across bakery, catering, coffee, vending and refrigeration supported by design, specification, logistics, installation, service, maintenance programmes and finance packages, all of which have been created through interaction and response with their broad and diverse range of customers.

Today Scobie McIntosh continues to develop solutions for its customers, has an energetic growth strategy which is on boarding businesses that add value to its existing customer base and is ready to discuss any equipment challenges and service requirements you may have.

On the decision to join ceda Scobie McIntosh Executive Director, Kingsley Donaldson comments:

“Scobie McIntosh has had a long association with ceda. We are really pleased to be returning to the organisation as a result of our recent acquisition of Corrigans. Our Chairman, Geoffrey Alderson, was heavily involved with ceda and was Chairman for a number of years. Karen Hillyer of Corrigans has been a long standing ceda member too so it is only natural for us to return to the fold.

“It is an exciting time for our business as we expand across the UK and Ireland. The move back into catering has been long overdue and by bringing Corrigans into our group of companies we are filling that gap. Whilst our initial focus will be on Corrigans existing client base, we are ambitious to expand beyond the M25 and eventually to have a national level catering operation to complement our bakery, coffee, vending, refrigeration and logistics divisions.”

To find out more about Scobie McIntosh visit www.scobiemcintosh.com.

Those of you who attended the Technical Conference last week (10th October) will have seen our latest video which aims to show how ceda members keep the foodservice and catering industry on track. (We can’t get the song out of our head either!).

The video is the follow-up to the successful You Imagine, We Create film which premiered at the ceda Conference in April this year. More films are also in production as we speak.

Please forward this video on to your own existing and potential new clients to help them understand the benefits and advantages from dealing with a ceda member. Here’s the link to the video on the ceda YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/H_sKPFAMLQ8

Sharing this link will take people straight to the video. You may also consider embedding a copy on your own website, sharing the video on your social media channels or adding the link to your email footer.

We want the ceda message to go far and wide so please share away.

Customise this video for your own company!

The video was designed in such a way that it can also be personalised to your business. For those who would like to edit it, our creative team can replace the ceda logo in the top right of the video with your company logo. There is a small cost associated with this editing but it’s a great opportunity to develop your own marketing tools.

If you would like to discuss how to use and/or edit the video for your business please contact our marketing partners CreationADM on 0161 236 3939 or email enquiries@creationadm.com.