ISS’s record of delivery on sourcing local, seasonal & British in schools
Linda Cregan & Steve Kemp, ISS Food Services

An insider perspective on how ISS sources local, seasonal and British produce for hundreds of schools across England

Steve Kemp is the Sector Director for the UK ISS Education Catering team. He leads the operational and support teams and is responsible for both the people working within the ISS Education team, the development and growth of the education business, and ensuring that we deliver wholesome fresh food in welcoming and engaging environments every day, in every dining room.



Linda Cregan is the Food Services Director for the ISS UK&I Food Operations Performance team. She supports the operational teams and is responsible for the food development and nutrition strategy for the Education business, as well as leading well-being strategy across all ISS food service sectors, Education, B&I and Healthcare Retail. 


Both Steve and Linda sit on the new Love British Food Schools Working Group.

 

Role and responsibilities


Steve

 

I have worked for ISS Education for over 10 years. Having initially trained as a Chef working with Michel Roux at the Waterside Inn in Bray, I moved into a Head Chef role with Sutcliffe catering and ultimately into the management arena where I now head up the ISS Education team as Sector Director.


Following a variety of roles supporting healthcare, business and industry and local government establishments I ventured into the Education sector joining Castle View in the mid 1990’s, which was then acquired by Compass Group in 2002 where I spent a further 10 years within the Chartwells Education team leading both Operations and Business Excellence functions. 


I love working for ISS and within the school meal industry because it affords me the opportunity to influence, for the better, how and what our future generations eat. With so many challenges today around Obesity, Diabetes, Allergens etc… it is now more important than ever to guide and nurture our young customers on making healthy choices and developing a healthy lifestyle. ISS is very aware of this and supports and underpins these ethos’s to help ensure our culture is focused on the health & wellbeing not only of our customers, but of our colleagues, friends, and family to. 


Linda


I have worked for ISS Education for 4 years. Having started my career working in restaurants in London’s West End, I moved across to school catering in 1999 initially with private contractors and then to Enfield Local Authority as Head of Service for Catering & Hospitality. In 2007, shortly after the Jamie Oliver TV programmes I was offered a position with the newly set up Government Quango, the School Food Trust, becoming CEO in 2013 when it became the Children’s Food Trust. I supported the development of School food standards and other Obesity and healthy food policies and legislation, was a member of the School Food Plan expert panel and Co-Chaired the School Food Plan Alliance. 


Having spent many years campaigning for better food for all children, I was really excited to have the opportunity to move to ISS in 2018 when the Trust closed. They were an organisation I had worked closely with on several projects, and like me, believe that it is every child’s right, not privilege, to be able to eat a lunch that is freshly prepared every day using quality, fresh and seasonal ingredients. 


How many schools are you responsible for and how do you work with them? Tell us about the schools: number of pupils / sites etc. What catering facilities do you have to support you?


ISS currently partner with around 450 primary schools and 50 secondary schools across England. They are a mixture of academies, local authority, and stand-alone schools, large and small, old, and new. We serve approximately 100,000 Food for Life served here accredited meals every day.


But we see our jobs as much wider than serving nutritious and healthy meals. Just as importantly, we support our schools to take a whole school approach to food, offering educational activities such as farm visits at our supply partner farms, cooking and nutrition sessions with our in-house Development Chefs and Nutritionists, and growing classes such as the Big Grow and Green Fingers which we deliver with Celebrity TV Gardener, Chris Collins. We also work in local school communities delivering bespoke and impactful social value activities and projects. 


We want school food to become a true part of the school day; the nineth lesson, because working together in partnership with our schools, we know we can help shape our future generation on the path to achieve their full potential.

 

What is your budget per head?


Funding is agreed on a school-by-school basis. Currently, the Government allowance for UIFSM is £2.34 but like most caterers we do not necessarily receive that full funding. This funding has only increased once (by 4p) since the introduction of the policy in 2013. This of course brings challenges, particularly at the moment with inflationary and other cost increases that all catering providers are facing. 

 

What is your farming hinterland and availability of produce in your area?


We use national supply partners Bidfood and NCB who work with a network of local producers, growers, and farmers to help us purchase and source local, seasonal, and British food from farms around the country. Having these supply partners helps us maintain a level of supply whilst reducing our food miles. 

 

What was the catalyst for you looking to source British?


We are proud to have led the way as an early adopter of the Food for Life programme and were the first caterer to set the minimum standard of bronze food for life served here menus in all our schools. Mark Davies (who was MD of Education Catering at ISS until recently) also sat on the Food for Life Advisory Board for many years, so being able to offer fresh and sustainable meals to all our customers has always been a priority.

 

What have you achieved?


Home baked is always our first choice. At least 75% of our meals are cooked from scratch - that includes everything from sauces to desserts and tray bakes, from bread baskets to freshly prepared salads and healthy snacks. The food we serve in our schools is nutritionally balanced and compliant with the School Food Standards. We make healthier eating easier by reducing salt and sugar in our recipes, using more pulses and vegetables and whole grain ingredients as often as we can, and we don't use any undesirable additives, trans fats or GM ingredients. 


As part of the For our Planet commitment in our health and wellbeing strategy, we have also aligned our food procurement policies across our business to the purchasing of certified ingredients with the highest ethical provenance to make sure we get great ingredients on the plate every time, so for example all our eggs are free range, our meat is sourced from UK farms with the highest welfare standards, and we are also a company partner with the marine conservation society. 

Our extensive recipe database has a variety of dishes and concepts to suit lots of different tastes and cultures, and we photograph every dish so that we can show our teams in the kitchens just what the dish should look like.

We run an inclusive service and want every child to be able to eat a meal with us if possible. So, we take every step necessary to make sure all pupils are safe and have any specialist requirements they need catered for, whether that be providing easily accessible allergen information in our secondary schools or holding our younger customers by the hand and designing bespoke special diet menus for them.

Having all of this in place means that when it comes to designing our menus, we can give the flexibility to have something that works for every school. 

 

What lessons and hot tips would you like to share with other school caterers?


Collaboration and partnership are key – with our producers, our farmers, our suppliers and most importantly our schools, their pupils, and their communities. 


Schools are at the heart of their local community and our dining halls are an intrinsic part of that. If we can support our schools with a whole school approach to healthy eating, food education and sustainability, this enriches the lives of local families, and the impact is felt way beyond the dining hall. 

But equally, we know that there is no nutrition in a meal that isn’t eaten, so being able to balance, climate, health and nature with affordability and popular options that children will want to eat is vital. Getting regular feedback from pupils and parents and then acting upon that feedback is vital. We hold regular tasting sessions and recipe and concept development sessions, and then use that to keep our offer fresh and innovative. A great example of this is our ‘Feed Your Eco’ offer in secondary schools that was developed as a result of pupil workshops to develop more plant-based recipes. 


And finally, don’t forget about the experience. If you think about a restaurant environment, a great food offer will get us through the door, but it is the experience we have that makes the difference whether we go back. A school dining room is no different than any other restaurant. Now, more than ever, those experiences matter. Pupils and students have already missed far too many opportunities to learn those vital social and life skills during the pandemic and we have one of the best opportunities ever now to use food and our dining experience to help pupils and students reconnect with their friends and get back to normal school life. Supporting social skills, mental and physical well-being and encouraging children to eat a healthier diet has never been more important.

 

Any suppliers you would like to highlight?


As mentioned, we work very closely with Bidfood and NCB because they are bought into our philosophy on the importance of being able to balance climate, health, and nature, and they are equally committed to working alongside us and local producers and farmers to help us achieve and maintain our food for life served here status. 


Both Bidfood and NCB have been tremendous during the pandemic in supporting us to make sure we continued to get healthy meals to children and their families, and we could not have done it without them.

Share:


You may also be interested in...

By Lee O’Mahoney August 28, 2025
Here at Fresh Direct, the UK’s leading wholesale fresh produce supplier, we fully understand our responsibility to set a precedent for others to follow when it comes to sustainability. Our vision is very clear – we will continue to lead the industry by championing UK farmers, embracing regenerative practices, and driving meaningful change across the sector – and we have a number of initiatives under way to deliver this vision. Irrespective of sector, the public care more than ever about where their food comes from and the standards in place to demonstrate sustainable sourcing. And as part of our efforts to meet customer needs, we recently announced a commitment to ensure all contracted UK fresh produce growers are LEAF Marque certified by the end of 2025. This move strengthens our environmental standards, with a focus on supporting growers to implement more sustainable farming practices. These include energy efficiency and carbon reduction, responsible soil and water management, minimising waste, and enhancing local biodiversity. Our Managing Director Andy Pembroke, said: “As a business, we are not only committed to reducing our impact on the environment, but also to ensuring we make a positive contribution to a more sustainable future for farming. And we want to work with growers who share that vision. Making this pledge for all our contracted UK fresh produce to be LEAF Marque certified represents a real step forward for our sector and we are grateful for the support of our growers who have really stepped up to the challenge. It’s also fantastic news for our customers who can see our demonstrable commitment to a sustainable future.” As we work towards full LEAF certification by the end of 2025, the initiative aligns with broader efforts to accelerate the transition to more resilient, transparent, and environmentally conscious food systems. Clare Mike, Director of Technical & Business Development at LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming), added: “Fresh Direct’s pledge is a significant milestone in the journey towards more sustainable and resilient farming systems. This commitment not only supports the adoption of Integrated Farm Management practices but also demonstrates a proactive approach to climate change, biodiversity, and soil and water health. We’re proud to collaborate with forward-thinking partners like Fresh Direct, whose leadership sets a powerful example for the entire foodservice sector.” She added: “This exemplifies the kind of collaborative action needed across the agri-food sector to drive meaningful change. By aligning its supply chain with LEAF Marque standards, Fresh Direct is not only enhancing the sustainability of their operations but also setting a precedent for others to follow. It is through such leadership and commitment that we can build a more resilient food system for the future.” It's a cliché – but as an organisation it’s true that we are on a journey to deliver a better future. I have confidence my expert colleagues and the network of committed British growers we work with will take us to a destination we can all be proud of. Contributor Bio Lee O’Mahoney is Brand Marketing Manager at Fresh Direct . Along with the rest of the Marketing team his focus is on championing the brand, communicating the market leading initiatives the organisation delivers, and putting a voice behind dedicated partner growers and their glorious produce.
By Alexia Robinson August 16, 2025
As proud partners of Love British Food, Bon Culina and Glebe Farm Foods recently came together for a visit that celebrated collaboration across the food supply chain. The Bon Culina team, led by Head of Service Development Andy Jones, was welcomed to Glebe Farm Foods’ state-of-the-art facilities in Cambridgeshire by Philip Rayner, Managing Director and Founder for a tour and first-hand insight into their unique gluten-free oat production. The visit highlighted a shared mission – to ensure that British produce is celebrated, understood, and chosen across public sector catering procurement, from hospitals and care homes to schools and universities. A meeting of shared values Both Bon Culina and Glebe Farm Foods are committed to high-quality British ingredients, shorter supply chains, and sustainability. For Bon Culina, this means sourcing as locally as possible, building strong relationships with producers, and maintaining rigorous standards for nutrition and taste across the 151 hospitals they supply. For Glebe Farm Foods, it means managing Britain’s only farm-to-table gluten-free oat supply chain – from sowing and harvesting through to processing and packaging – right here in the UK. Andy Jones, past chair of HCA and PSCA and who sits on government think tanks, praised the visit as “enlightening” and commended the cleanliness and efficiency of Glebe Farm Foods’ processing operation. He noted how seeing the journey from field to finished product reinforces the value of connecting caterers directly with producers. Strengthening the public sector’s British food offering The collaboration is more than just a meeting of minds – it’s a practical step towards increasing the availability and visibility of British-grown ingredients in public sector menus. By building understanding between suppliers and caterers, both organisations can help overcome barriers, identify new recipe opportunities, and promote provenance to consumers. As part of the day’s discussions, Andy encouraged Glebe Farm Foods to explore opportunities with public sector catering bodies such as the Hospital Caterers Association, LACA, TUCO, and the National Association of Care Catering. These forums provide a direct route to decision-makers and can help amplify the role of British food in the sector. A legacy of championing British Andy’s involvement in Love British Food spans over two decades, alongside his leadership in campaigns such as Nutrition and Hydration Week. He believes initiatives like the Glebe Farm Foods visit are vital in turning seasonal campaigns into long-term change. “Partnerships like this are how we make a real difference,” Andy said. “From farm to fork, everyone has a role to play in ensuring the food we serve is not only nutritious and delicious, but also supports our farmers, reduces food miles, and strengthens our national food security.” Of the visit, Philip said: “Meetings such as the one with Bon Culina help develop relationships and recipes with Glebe Farm Foods . It’s a great way to ensure we can both work to get more British food and drink into hospitals and schools.” A view to the future The visit has already sparked ideas for how Glebe Farm Foods’ products might be incorporated into Bon Culina’s recipes, helping to broaden their British offering while keeping quality and sustainability at the forefront. Both teams left the day energised by the potential for collaboration – proving that when producers and caterers work hand in hand, British food can truly take centre stage in the public sector. Visit BonCulina Foodservice and Home - Glebe Farm for more information. Love British Food partners can arrange a similar visit by emailing: office@glebefarmfoods.co.uk
By Alexia Robinson August 14, 2025
Jayne Jones is incredible. She used to be Chair of ASSIST FM that represents 32 Scottish Local Authorities. She is currently Assistant Director for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. She has, therefore, experience of both school and hospital catering. She has participated in a number of Scottish Government steering groups including those developing Local Food Strategies, ending the need for food banks in Scotland and in developing proposals for the next Scottish Organic Food Action Plan. 
By Lucy Williamson August 8, 2025
I’m lucky to have 30 years across the ‘One Health’ spectrum from soil & livestock as a farm Vet previously, to food systems & health, in my current role as a Public Health Nutritionist! It was so inspiring in July to join other health practitioners, farmers, policy-makers and food providers and speak at Groundswell, our UK regenerative farming festival.
By Alexia Robinson August 4, 2025
Launched in May, Love British Food’s podcast Get Seasonal is continuing to voice the importance of generating greater demand for UK produce with the release of its second summer edition. Made by chefs for chefs, the podcast aims to highlight the importance of supporting British produce within the food service and hospitality industries and promotes sustainable, British-sourced produce. This episode, hosted by Ian Nottage, head of food development at Fresh Direct, and Graeme Collie, executive chef at King’s College London, features two new guests and one returning. They discuss more about the importance of seasonality in our British menus and how we can maximise the ingredients we have on our doorsteps. The first guest is Jon Hammond, a fourth-generation farmer from Hammonds farm in Nottinghamshire, highlighting challenges faced by British farmers. He discusses climate concerns, and the balance needed between soil health and sustainability with larger scale operations to meet consumer demands. Lecturer and game expert, Jose Souto, from Westminster Kingsway College, talks about the myths surrounding wild meats. He explains that each variety has different sustainable and ethical implications, as well as requiring distinct handling and preparation methods when it comes to maintaining flavour and quality. Colin Wheeler James, founder of the Ground Up Cookery School, returns by popular demand to share his insights into creative uses of foraged ingredients. His segment focuses on pairing them with game, and highlights the sustainability benefits of using local, seasonal, and wild ingredients. The key takeaway is clear - we should celebrate the best of British produce when it is fresh and in-season. For anyone looking to expand their culinary horizons, the Love British Food Get Seasonal podcast is available now on all major platforms, including Spotify, iTunes, or listen on the Love British Food website.
By Alexia Robinson July 29, 2025
Courteenhall Estate, a model of regenerative farming nestled in the rolling countryside of South Northamptonshire, provided a stunning backdrop for Love British Food’s tenth on-farm training day. The Estate’s rich heritage is married to a compelling story of innovation, stewardship and sustainability which perfectly aligned with the purpose of the visit – to connect changemakers across the public sector with the people and places behind the food they serve. The training day brought together over 20 professionals working across schools, hospitals, universities, care homes, local authorities and the supply chain. All united by the shared goal of putting more British produce on the menu in public sector settings. From the outset, the day cultivated open conversation, collaborative thinking, and a renewed sense of purpose for everyone present. A thriving example of sustainable British farming Hosted by Dr Johnny Wake, British Farming Awards’ Sustainable Farmer of the Year 2024, the event offered attendees a first-hand view of nature-friendly farming in action. Johnny, returned to run the 350-year-old family estate after a career in medicine. Bring his expert insight on health and applying it to how food is produced in the healthiest way while benefiting the environment. Over more than a decade, he has transformed Courteenhall into a shining example of regenerative agriculture. Under his guidance, the Estate has diversified from traditional arable to a mixed farm that has introduced combinable crops such as cereals, oilseeds and pulses as part of the rotation to build soil health. Livestock have been reintroduced including the heritage breed of Hereford cattle. This hardy herd are Reared to Pasture for Life standards by grazing the ancient parkland throughout the year. This benefits biodiversity, sequesters carbon, supports human health and animal welfare. The landscape itself told a story – lush wildflower strips including rare orchids, cover crops, and vibrant hedgerows served to evidence of the farm’s commitment to biodiversity, carbon capture, and soil health. Visitors saw sustainability in action; as an operational ethos rooted in both legacy and future-thinking. Connecting sectors, sharing solutions Love British Food’s changemaker events are never passive learning days – they are spaces for people working in public sector catering to forge connections, share challenges, and co-create solutions. Over a lunch of seasonal British produce, delegates engaged in practical discussions around procurement barriers, seasonal menu planning, and leveraging local supply chains. Examples shared on the day illustrated what success looks like in action: Nottingham County Council’s County Enterprise Foods radically restructured its supply chain to source 100% fresh local produce Milton Keynes University Hospital reported cost savings through working with a local butcher An NHS Trust restructured its tendering process to accommodate a regional dairy supplier NHS caterer reported move from per-patient budgets to fortnightly budgets to deliver savings Schools using regional wholesalers for fresh vegetables and meat Local dairy farm supplied ice cream to hospital, improving nutritional value North Shropshire hospital sourcing beef from a local farm and putting it on their menu once a month These stories demonstrated how policy shifts, procurement language, and courageous leadership can unlock opportunities for British producers. As one attendee put it, “Today has shown how much positive impact you can have through small but meaningful changes. Shouting about what you’re already doing, telling the story – it becomes part of your customer experience.” The power of networks With Courteenhall marking the tenth farm visit, Love British Food’s training programme has now created a nationwide network of over 200 changemakers. These are individuals return to their institutions empowered and equipped to push for incremental but impactful shifts in sourcing policy. Founder Alexia Robinson described the importance of this network: “Each of our changemakers leaves with a deeper understanding of how the food we eat is produced, and why that matters for sustainability, nutrition, and local economies. Their collective impact is immense – British food becomes not just a procurement choice, but a values-led statement.” This growing network is already delivering on that promise, advocating for systemic change in the way public institutions think about food. Attendees discussed how procurement frameworks can be rewritten to prioritise sustainability, how stories from farms can help meet Ofsted and CQC objectives, and how even minor shifts in menus can support the broader goal of a healthy, sustainable food system. From vision to action The event closed with a strong sense of optimism and forward motion. As delegates prepared to return to their respective organisations, the mood was one of resolve. The visit had reaffirmed the link between food, land, health, and sustainability. Most importantly, it had sparked ideas for how to turn knowledge into action. Love British Food’s farm training visits are not just about showcasing British farming, they are about cultivating a movement. They remind us that changing our food system is not about one big leap, but about many people making small, meaningful steps, together. As one changemaker concluded: “Whether it’s choosing a local butcher, sourcing seasonal veg, or championing British produce in a school lunch, it all adds up. That’s the power of this programme. It gives us the knowledge and the network to make it happen.” As out host farmer, Johnny spoke of the impact the day and how it changed his perception: “I now have a much better understanding of the multiple challenges in public sector catering. While sweeping reform won’t happen overnight, small, strategic changes will deliver long-term improvements to public health and our environment.” Quotes from the day: "Change needs to be accessible and actionable. Today has shown how much positive impact you can have through small but meaningful changes." “We urgently need to dispel the myth that fresh, British produce is more expensive – when considered in a wider social and economic context.” “We need to make food a priority in the NHS. Too often the focus in hospital is on cure rather than prevention.” “The programme provides a vital opportunity to see the work that British farmers put into producing food” “We need to make food a priority in the NHS. Too often the focus in hospital is on cure rather than prevention.” “Shout about what you are already doing, tell the stories so it becomes part of your organisation and your customer experience” “I am hugely grateful to Johnny for hosting and sharing how regenerative farming contributes to British food production.” “Johnny was such an outstanding host, with a wealth of knowledge to share and a keen interest in the intricacies of public sector procurement.” Caterers, Dieticians, Procurement Leads and Board Members are all invited to attend our farm visits. Each visit runs from approx. 11am – 3pm and involves a farm tour followed by working lunch and discussion on opportunities and challenges. Anyone interested in attending a future farm visit and joining our cohort of changemakers should contact: info@lovebritishfood.co.uk
By Alexia Robinson June 13, 2025
Love British Food has hosted its tenth on-farm training event for public sector food professionals at Courteenhall Estate, expanding the number of change makers to 214 people, all inspired to champion British produce.
By Philip Rayner, Managing Director, Glebe Farm Foods May 20, 2025
By Philip Rayner, Managing Director, Glebe Farm Foods Sustainability is more than a principle for us - it’s the foundation of how we grow, produce, and package every product in our PureOaty range at Glebe Farm. From our oat fields in Cambridgeshire to our energy-efficient production line just metres away, every step of the journey is designed to reduce emissions, support biodiversity, and strengthen the British farming community. Homegrown in Cambridgeshire All of our oats are sown, grown, and milled in Cambridgeshire. Spanning 100,000 acres, our family farm works with a trusted network of local farmers within a 70-mile radius. This hyper-local supply chain keeps food miles low and helps reduce transport-related emissions while also ensuring traceability and quality from farm to table. By supporting local farmers, we’re investing in our local economy and creating a resilient, British-first supply model, something we believe is critical in this ever-evolving food landscape.
Show More

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button