PSFPI Case Study

Links on this site:

Lessons learned during implementation

Barriers to increased use of seasonal produce

School menus had lost track of seasonality for a long period before the local sourcing programme. Further work is needed to present the complex information gathered by the project in appropriate formats for busy Unit Managers in school kitchens, such as a simple ‘matrix’ of seasonal produce. Steering group members’ work on the ground has revealed major opportunities to increase use of seasonal produce, such as instances of gluts of cauliflowers currently ploughed back into ground due to lack of a route to market.

Local sourcing not demand led

While ECS is committed to local sourcing and has made great progress, local sourcing is not demand led. Schools set their own menus, and other concerns, in particular nutrition, are more pressing. Provenance of food is not a widespread concern but there has been increasing interest from schools and parents.

Failings/challenges

Pressures of short-term project

Events and publications are a useful focus and activity but take a lot of energy in a shrt-term project on a small budget of £80,000. The workshop/visit for local suppliers took longer than anticipated to organise because the group was wary of ‘marching farmers up the hill’ without considering the support and information required on the demand side to enable them to bid for ECS contracts. We spent time preparing key information on contracts coming up, getting first tier suppliers onboard, and thinking about the appropriate format. It is hoped that the ‘process map’ work on visualising the supply chain will help engage people.

Asset Transfer Management

The local sourcing work is taking place with a backdrop of uncertainty as ECS is still in the process of Asset Transfer Management, so it is not known if the motivation for local sourcing will continue.

The Asset Management Project is seeking to deliver improved and more accessible buildings for customers and staff, improved facilities and services and support for front line services whilst supporting economic, social and physical regeneration of the area through additional investment. This will be realised through an out sourced partner who can bring expertise, investment and resources to facilitate the desired outcome. ECS is one of the services that is being made as a commercial opportunity to the private sector.

Increased demand from catering/retail

There is increasing demand for local produce in the catering and retail sector which is willing to pay a premium for known local provenance. There is concern that this demand wil capitalise on the infrastructure for local supply that ECS has helped to establish, to the extend that it is eroded.

Future developments

Within ECS, local sourcing is firmly established as a key business objective and is embedding in policy and practice. GFN is part of a consortium, led by ADAS (Agricultural Development and Advisory Service) working on a Yorkshire Forward supported project to develop regional supply opportunities for public procurement. Roger Sheard of ECS is advising the project.

Contact:
Roger Sheard
Business Development Manager, Education Contract Services
tel: 01274 431417
e-mail: roger.sheard@bradford.gov.uk

Case study written by Rose Bridger.

<< Back

Go to page:1 • 2 • 3