Hospital Caterers Association Forum kicks-off with ‘Food at our Core’ theme
The Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) Leadership & Development Forum, which is taking place at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole from 1-2nd April, has kicked-off with the theme ‘Food at our Core’.
Iain Robertson, national chair of HCA, will provide an update to members on what the organisation has been up to over the past year. Day one of the HCA Forum will feature three interactive sessions that involve a variety of award-winning chefs from the hospital catering sector showcasing healthy and sustainable meals.
The demonstrations include:
- Interactive Session 1 - Children Feeding, hosted by Charlotte Fairall (Alejandro Hernandez & Manuela Miccoli - Royal Surrey Foundation Trust - NHS Chef of the Year winners 2024)
- Interactive Session 2 - Managing your food waste, hosted by Nick Vadis (NHS 4 Nations Challenge Best in Class 2023 - Alan Dougan and James Dougan, Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS Trust)
- Interactive session 3 - Low carbon meals, hosted by Lee Sheppard, apetito (NHS 4 Nations Challenge Best in Class 2024, Darren Taggart and Angela Dickson, Northern Trust HSCNI and Jethro Lawrence, apetito development chef & NHS Chef 2021 winning mentor)
Forum facilitator Mark Durden-Smith will speak to celebrity chef, wellness coach and plant-based advocate Lisa Marley about her career, her passions and her views on whether hospitals should only serve plant-based food.
The HCA Forum is the only national event dedicated to the production, delivery and service of nutritious food to patients, staff and visitors in the NHS. To complement the programme there will also be an exhibition of over 90 suppliers showcasing products, services and solutions.
The HCA Awards, which aim to recognise the commitment and contribution of the association’s members, will crown nine winners across a range of categories tonight (1st April).
