City Catering staff awarded for their incredible efforts over the pandemic
Last week we got together to celebrate our Staff Excellence Awards 2022, to acknowledge all of our amazing and talented staff and all they have achieved in the last few years. The night was filled with celebrations, fun, and laughter!
Every single person who works for City Catering does so to help ensure young people, their families, and the vulnerable and elderly get a decent meal, and they all work so hard to make that happen.
It has been an unprecedented couple of years. Our amazing team have delivered an average of 9,000 meals a day with the challenges of Covid, Brexit, cost of living, stock concerns, storms, heatwaves - all on top of the everyday challenges that come from a city-wide operation means. Some days really can rely on magic.
Thankfully, magic is something our teams has in abundance and our staff were rewarded for their efforts with several awards being handed out on the night from our CEO, Gary McMahon; who highlighted how proud he was of all the staff members in attendance:
“I am delighted to have this opportunity to celebrate the resilience, dedication, skills, and qualities that are so abundant in our staff. In the time that I have been here, I have been struck by two things that have come up time and time again, almost every day. Firstly, the culture of this charity and the way that you all focus on our beneficiaries and serving them great food. The second being your resilience and strength as a team of colleagues. I respect and admire you all for that more than anything.” - Gary McMahon , CEO - CCS
The list of winners included:
Team of the Year – St Marks CE Primary & Sinclair Primary & Nursery
Colleague of the Year – Laura Suanez–Aisa, Menu Development Assistant
Head of Kitchen 2022 – Sarah Moore, Holy Family Catholic Primary
Assistant Cook 2022 – Aceysele Diaz Diaz, St Marks CE Primary
Catering Assistant 2022 – Rachel Abbott, Mansbridge Primary
CEOs Award – Penny Payne, Moorlands Primary
Rising Star – Becky Biggs, Bitterne CE Primary
School Community Award – Swaythling Primary kitchen team, led by Ann Travers
Theme Day Award – Kanes Hill Primary kitchen team, led by Karla Shephard
We would like to thank all of our sponsors who have contributed to this year’s Staff Excellence Awards including; Bidfood, Harvest, Emcor, Comax, Angel, Harfield, W V Howe and our very own HR Manager Alex McTaggart.
Our lovely Area Manager, Donna Peters gave a speech at the awards thanking everyone for their dedication and effort over the pandemic and beyond:
“It’s been a difficult couple of years, the pandemic hit hard but together we have seen it through. And tonight is a recognition of our ability to pull together. The dedication and effort from you and your teams has been second to none.
You’ve all worked tirelessly to make sure people have been fed and to keep the charity strong - none of which has gone unnoticed. I’m even sure there has been blood sweat and tears at times. We really do appreciate EACH AND EVERY one of you and the effort you continue to put in.
I am proud of us as a charity and what we stand for. I am proud of everyone here this evening and those who sadly could not make it. You too should feel proud, proud of yourselves and each other.”
It really was a lovely evening to acknowledge everyone’s achievements, not just over the past year but since our last opportunity to host an awards, in 2019. We are proud to be a school and care meals charity! Making sure that the youngest and oldest residents of Southampton are well nourished is what we stand for. #SEA2022