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It has been a particularly tough year for public sector caterers. While Jamie Oliver and the Government's extra money generated a welcome momentum for change, with that momentum came a good deal of scrutiny. The eyes of the media, parents and patients were all trained on the sector and there has been increasing pressure since to provide quality food under tough contract conditions.

To recognise the achievements of those working in this, one of hardest sectors of the catering industry, a Catey for Public Sector Caterer of the Year was awarded for the first time in 2005. The award is meant for an individual or organisation working in the fields of healthcare, education or institutional catering who can demonstrate clear success in the past 12 months. The winner should also be able to combine innovation with sound financial performance.

The inaugural winner for 2005, Ron McKenzie, who is head of catering at County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, met all those criteria. Since 2004 Darlington has been a successful pilot for the Government's drive to make the public sector source more of its food from sustainable sources. Not only does its milk now come from a local farm, but the hospital recently switched to organic milk at neutral cost. McKenzie even insists on buying British meat - some achievement with an NHS budget.

McKenzie's practices and methods at the hospital should certainly serve as an example to all others in public sector catering. "I have always been of the belief that our patients are our customers and deserve the best we can offer, not only in the food we serve but also in the manner in which we serve it," he says.

He is also a hands-on manager, who recognises that you must nurture commitment from your staff towards their profession through your own actions if you are going to improve the food and service you can provide.

The award has, McKenzie believes, been a great motivation for all his team. "Winning the Catey has raised the profile of my department within my organisation," he says. "But I feel that it also recognises the work that is going on within NHS catering as a whole."

As a judge for this year's award, McKenzie will be looking for the same level of passion in this year's nominations that saw him win in 2005. "They must be able to demonstrate continuous commitment in improving and enhancing the catering service," he says. "But they must be able to deliver that service within the agreed financial framework, while also being innovative."

Judges' criteria

The Public Sector Caterer of the Year Catey will go to an individual or organisation who has made an outstanding contribution to the cost sector. The winner will possess the ability to combine innovation with sound financial performance, as well as being able to demonstrate clear achievements during the past 12 months.

The individual or organisation will have contributed to the cost sector in the areas of healthcare, education or institutional catering.