Cateys 2012: Public Sector Caterer Award – Andrew Jones
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The winner of the 2012 award clearly demonstrated an outstanding and long-term commitment to the public sector and has made a significant difference to service users in the UK.
Andrew Jones is employed in the healthcare division of ISS Facility Services, where his main focus is the development of innovative solutions in all areas of the catering business.
His career began in healthcare in 1981 at Leicester General Hospital as a trainee chef and it was in this role that Jones first began to hone his "patient is king" ethos. Ten years later he'd worked his way up to become catering manager and then training and quality manager. His involvement with employer ISS began in 1995, when the company's Mediclean business won the contract to take over the catering services and since then Jones's career with the firm has gone from strength to strength.
As with other winners of this particular Catey, Jones's commitment to his field goes above and beyond the job description and he is an active contributor to a number of organisations, including working groups with the Care Quality Commission, the NHS core learning team, the Royal College of Nursing, the National Patient Safety Agency and the Soil Association.
His commitment to patient nutrition and hydration means that Jones is currently involved in the Government's nutritional action plan and his work with the Food Standards Agency saw ISS become the first company to put calorie labelling on meals in their site restaurants.
He is currently the chair of the West Midland branch of the Hospital Caterers Association (HCA), and in 2007 he was named HCA Caterer of the Year. Jones took up the position of HCA vice-chair last year, after which he began working with the Institute of Hospitality and he has been on a working party looking at a joint training plan for caterers. One of his most recent achievements was the introduction of the Eat Well food range, which provides an effective method of cooking meals that results in increased choice and ultimately improves the patient's nutritional intake.
WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
"Andrew demonstrated a commitment to enhancing the patient experience wherever possible, and was keen to share best practices with colleagues within the sector. He has driven the standards up in his own workplace while engaging staff to include them in the process."
Derek Johnson, Leeds City Council
"His passion and commitment for the services and the people he provides catering services to is always there to see. Catey winners are very special and this year's recipient is no exception."
Alison McCree, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Shortlisted
â- Andrew Jones, service development director, innovation and product, ISS Facility Services, Healthcare
â- University Catering Services team, University of Sussex
The JudgesBeverley Baker, head of commercial services, Surrey County Council
Derek Johnson, principal catering manager, Leeds City Council
Roger Kellow, government account manager, Hobart UK
Alison McCree, associate director of facilities, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Chris Stern, managing director, Stern Consultancy
