Love British Food organised the first ever meeting of public sector decision makers to discuss increasing the supply of British sourced food into UK public sector supply chains. The event took place on 20 th March in Hertfordshire at Hammonds End Farm, owned by Stuart Roberts.  Love British Food have produced a report detailing the key findings from this meeting, released today.  The key recommendations from the report include: To increase farmer understanding of the public sector as a customer and to encourage more farmers to view the public sector as a viable partner. A commitment to encourage and maintain progress where it has been made. Strengthen commitments to buy British in the new Government Buying Standards. Promote a higher level of understanding of the potential opportunities provided by the Crown Commercial Service buying system, the UK’s largest public procurement organisation. Encourage food service providers to include a ‘Buy British’ category in product listings. The discussion between the relevant stakeholders will continue through a new Love British Food podcast launching this month, with the approach detailed within this report framing future efforts. Love British Food will also continue to lead engagement with two more farm visits already planned for this year and will continue to engage with stakeholders through two industry working groups.  Alexia Robinson, Love British Food Founder: “In Britain we produce fantastic food. At our landmark meeting with public sector influencers, we gathered invaluable insights that have framed our report.  Encouraging a Buy British policy within the public sector is not only more sustainable, helping them to meet their targets on net zero, sustainability and social value but it will also give more people access to high quality, locally sourced British food.  We look forward to continuing to lead engagement within the public sector, with the final ambition of a principle for buyers to look carefully at their supply chains and to make British farmers the first food supplier of choice throughout the entire public sector.”  We will continue to work with decision makers in the public sector to make the ambitions within this report a reality.”  Stuart Roberts, cereal, beef and sheep farmer, Hammonds End Farm: “Love British Food has led the way for a long time in promoting British food and farming to the public sector. I am looking forward to working with them to share the true societal and environment value of buying British; and lead farmers to understand the commercial opportunity of supplying schools, hospitals and other institutions.”  Link to report: 

Love British Food’s ‘Public Sector Influencers’ event took place on March 20th at Hammonds End Farm in Hertfordshire, owned by former NFU Deputy President Stuart Roberts. Aimed at connecting public sector decision makers with British food producers, farmers and suppliers. Attendees included Phil Shelley, Chair NHS Food Review and National Lead for Net Zero Food, NHS England, Tim Radcliffe, Net Zero food programme manager at NHS England, Chair Public Sector Catering Alliance Matt White, TUCO, Sodexo, Brakes, Compass, OCS, and many more (full attendee list below). The group was given a tour of the farm, seeing everything that Stuart does to farm in a sustainable way that contributes to a beautiful environment and glorious biodiversity, thereby learning the value of making British food first supplier of choice. Everyone then gathered on straw bales in the barn for a wide-ranging discussion, led by public sector leaders, on everything from how farmers and suppliers can engage in the tendering process to the contribution of different farming systems to the nutritional value of food. The consensus was an agreement that the public sector is a hugely overlooked market for British farmers. A report is being prepared that will be distributed, with a new Love British Food podcast launching in April where the discussion with leading food service providers, suppliers, buyers and producers will continue. The agreed objectives from the event are as follows: - Inspire public sector providers to work with farmers and food producers to achieve robust supply chains of nutritious food. - Enhance understanding of exactly how farmers can supply the public sector. - Promote the public sector as a customer to encourage more farmers to invest in supplying it. - Explain to public sector caterers why buying from British farmers will help them meet their sustainability and net zero targets and deliver social value and the nutritious food they need.

Westminster Kingsway College is one of the largest further education colleges in central London with a diverse student body of around 14,000 learners.

Love British Food’s inaugural ‘Public Sector Influencers’ event on Wednesday 20th March is set to connect the most influential people in the public sector with British farmers, producers and suppliers. All major public sector providers are attending, for a day of frank discussion and shared sense of purpose. The public sector has the potential to be a huge customer for British farming, and this event will explain clearly and directly how farmers can sell into it. The aim is to agree a shared vision of what all involved in the supply chain, and those hoping to be involved, can aspire to. The event is taking place on Stuart Robert’s farm. Stuart is a cereal, beef and sheep farmer - he is one of the most well-known and passionate advocates for farming and consumer engagement. Stuart Roberts, cereal, beef and sheep farmer, Hammonds End farm, Hertfordshire and former NFU Deputy President: “Love British Food has led the way for a long time in promoting British food and farming to the public sector. I am delighted to host their public sector influencers event on my farm. I am looking forward to working with them to share the true societal and environment value of buying British; and lead farmers to understand the commercial opportunity of supplying schools, hospitals and other institutions.” Phil Shelley, Chair NHS Food Review and National Lead for Net Zero Food, NHS England: “This is the first time that public sector leaders, providers, suppliers and farmers have gathered together to discuss the supply chain. Momentum is building as we in the public sector, want to buy more British food. I hope this event provides farmers the confidence to invest in supplying the public sector helping us, as buyers, to understand the true value of buying British. There will be plenty of frank discussions I am sure. What better place to have them, than on a farm. Thank you to Love British Food for organising.” Alexia Robinson, Love British Food Founder: “Everyone we work with in the public sector agrees that we are on the cusp of real change in the way food is procured. There is an increasingly shared vision and agreement that purchasing from British suppliers should be the aspiration for NHS Trusts, Local Authorities, schools, universities, care homes and other public institutions. All have targets to deliver on sustainability, net zero, the environment and, most important, the need to provide nutritional food to the young, the sick, the elderly, their staff and other members of the public. Interestingly, this aspiration has not been as widely communicated to our farmers and producers, many of whom do not view or understand the public sector as a customer. This event aims to go beyond talk of aspirations and the detail of government buying standards to a frank discussion on the nitty gritty reality of how we can all work together to deliver robust supply chains of quality food to the vast public sector. Love British Food has always been about delivering positive change for local communities across the UK. That means tangible benefits, where advantages are felt in farms, businesses and the wider local economy. Real change will be best achieved through showing caterers and influencers the benefits of buying British first-hand on a farm; and giving farmers the opportunity to explain to buyers what they, in turn, need from buyers in order to deliver. Meetings in dusty Westminster committee rooms, which have been discussing this since 2014!, have delivered little and the government buying standards remain in the long grass. Gathering such an array of established and influential names will take our activities with the public sector to the next level - our national programme of farm visits has already made waves, but we’re hopeful that this event will help to put food security on the map within all elements of the public sector. Public sector leaders can play their role - through sourcing more food from British farmers and producers. Helping to give them the confidence they need to invest and grow their business, ultimately delivering the domestic production capacity that we need to ensure our food security. An increasingly volatile global picture has had an impact on food supply chains that has not been fully appreciated by anyone at the heart of Government - we are aiming to change that.” ENDS Notes to the Editor: Love British Food farm visits, see the short film: https://www.lovebritishfood.co.uk/farm-visits Capacity if limited but if you are interested in attending, please email: alexiarobinson@lovebritishfood.co.uk Love British Food has further public sector farm visits planned this year to: The Holkham Estate hosted by Jake Fiennes Wales hosted by Patrick Holden Attendees : Public Sector: Phil Shelly, NHS England Tim Radcliffe, NHS England and Director Love British Food Derek Wright, Blackpool Local Authority, LACA director and Director Love British Food Chair Public Sector Catering Alliance: Matt White Milton Keynes Hospital and Chair Love British Food Hospital and Care Catering Working Group: Frank Fiore TUCO: Jane Eve and Graeme Collie HCA: Iain Robertson HCA London SE: Rupi Valentine Sodexo: Militsa Pribetich-Gill Compass: Lone Middleton, Victoria Murray and Egle Cironkaite Brakes: Cathy Amos and James Armitage ISS: Ika Bobrowska NHS Supply: Kirstin Morris Caterforce: Tom Matthew OCS: Leigh Ashley Bon Culina: Colin Clarke Apetito: Lee Sheppard Aramark: Phil Quinn Producers: Yeo Valley: Bobby Houghton-Brown Potatoes: Nick Wright Dairy: Charles Goadby, Amy Eggleston and Michael Oakes AB Fruits: Roberto Bosco Organic beef, Derbyshire: Tom Sebire and Nicky Stonebridge Beef and lamb: Rob Pratt Lee Valley Growers Arable: Jamie Burrows Beef and cereals: Sarah Bell Dairy: Claire Daw Nuffield scholars studying public sector supply chains: Hannah Fraser and Tom Pearson Media: Farmers Guardian: Emily Ashworth PSC: David Foad Contract Catering: Henry Norman tbc Six Inches of Soil film producer and representing Cambridge Children’s hospital: Claire Mackenzie Agenda 10.30 Welcome and introduction  Overview of expectations of the day An on-farm working discussion on how public sector providers can work together with farmers and food producers to achieve robust supply chains of nutritious food Aim is to enhance understanding of exactly how farmers can supply the public sector; …and explain to public sector caterers why buying from British farmers will help them meet their sustainability and net zero targets and deliver the nutritious food they need. Outcome is to map the existing and potential supply chain opportunities; and help the British farming industry understand the public sector as customer so that more farmers invest in supplying them in the future. 11.00 Farm tour led by Stuart Roberts and Rob Pratt – answering the question ‘Why Buy British’ 1pm Lunch 1.30 Sector by sector discussion Farmers will be paired with a public sector lead to discuss the nitty gritty of the supply chain: NHS Supply and Frank Fiore : Michael Oakes, Stuart Roberts and Nick Wright (compered by Tim Radcliffe, NHS England) Derek Wright : Derbyshire beef, Claire Daw and Amy Eggleston (compered by Alexia Robinson, Love British Food) TUCO : Sarah Bell, Rob Pratt and Jamie Burrows (compered by Matt White, PSC Chair) what is possible, how does it work currently, how can it work better. who are the influencers in the supply chain making the key decisions on value and price. 3. 30 End

The hospitality and tourism industry is under immense pressure and facing huge and unique challenges not only here in the UK but all throughout Europe and the rest of the world. However, The hospitality and tourism industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, providing a colossal number of job opportunities. Between 2021 and 2031, employment in the hospitality and tourism industry is projected to expand faster than any other job sector, creating about 1.3 million new positions.

Love British Food, the leading promotional body for British produce, has announced that it will become a Social Enterprise in order to further its reach and to grow its work. Tim Radcliffe, Net Zero Food Programme Manager for NHS England, and Derek Wright, Catering Services Manager at Blackpool Catering Services will join Love British Food Founder Alexia Robinson as Directors. Love British Food: a new social enterprise dedicated to making high quality nutritious British food available to all sectors of our society. Its key objectives will remain the same, through the channels that have proved so successful since the organisation’s formation in 2002. Including British Food Fortnight, the biggest celebration of British food and drink on the calendar, a national programme of farm visits for NHS caterers, industry working groups to share knowledge, developing the online platform ‘British Food Fortnight Live’, and plenty more. What is a social enterprise? They are businesses that trade for environmental or social reasons. Not to deliver profit for shareholders, but to invest those funds into providing a tangible benefit for communities across the country and the environment. Tim Radcliffe, Net Zero Food Programme Manager NHS England, commented on his new role: “Being asked to be a director of Love British Food is an immense honour and something I accepted in a heartbeat. The challenges of food security, ethical farming and nutritional food is more relevant than ever and these are issues that British farmers are better suited than anyone to deliver on. This country produces high quality, affordable produce and we should be immensely proud of our farming heritage. The public sector has a significant part to play by committing to connect farm to fork. We are feeding the nation from cradle to grave and doing it with British produce benefits our local communities. This is an opportunity for all.” Derek Wright, Catering Services Manager at Blackpool Catering Services, added on becoming a Director: "Upon being invited to be a volunteer Director for Love British Food, I eagerly embraced the opportunity. As a Chef I grew up rooted in a farming community, I am enthusiastic about advocating for the use of locally sourced produce in our countryside and the benefits this has not only improves nutrition but our sustainability and local economy. Love British Food stands as an outstanding platform for championing our cause. Our distinctive position enables us to champion British food across the broader spectrum of the Public Sector and within our communities. We reach individuals through schools and other educational institutions, all while bringing the remarkable farmers, producers, and wholesalers to the forefront of what we do." Alexia Robinson, Love British Food Founder, commented on the new appointments: “I am delighted that Tim and Derek are joining me in this new exciting era for Love British Food. We will have a particular focus on inspiring and enabling robust, quality supply chains in hospitals, care homes, schools and universities. Love British Food is established as a promotion in these areas; and while there are pockets of very good work taking place around the country (Birmingham, Yorkshire, the new Cambridge children’s hospital to name a few) there is no national programme to enable a step-change to quality, nutritious food as standard in the public sector. We do not believe any Government’s statement of 50% local/sustainable sourcing will achieve much without a true change management programme on the ground.” The new organisation launches its activities at… Love British Food’s Public Sector Influencers meet the Producers event on Wed 20 th March in Hertfordshire. A day of like-minded people, frank discussion and shared sense of purpose. The public sector has the potential to be a huge customer for British farming and this event will explain how farmers can sell into it. All the major public sector providers are attending and farmers, wholesalers and food manufacturers are being invited. An on-farm working discussion on how public sector providers can work together with farmers and food producers to achieve robust supply chains of nutritious food. The aim is to agree a shared vision of what public sector caterers, providers and producers can aspire to. The event is taking place on Stuart Robert’s farm - Stuart is a Cereal, beef and sheep farmer. He is one of the most well-known and passionate advocates for farming and consumer engagement. 

At Milton Keynes University Hospital prioritising patient catering has been a longstanding commitment. Whether it is a parent who has just given birth, a child recovering from surgery or an individual recuperating from a stroke, it is vital that everyone is offered a wide range of appetising and nutritious meal options during their hospital stay.