Blacksmiths Arms School Meals Service, Rothwell, Lincolnshire, East Midlands
All employees are parents of children at the schools
APPLICANT AND BACKGROUND
Ian Quill is the owner and landlord of the Blacksmith’s Arms, Rothwell near Market Rasen. Ian owns two pubs and employs approximately 40 staff.
He was approached by the Head teacher of Kelsey Primary School to discuss the possibility of supplying hot school meals to pupils at Kelsey Primary. Ian was interested in the opportunity but understood that if the scheme was to be successful he needed to supply meals to more than one school. Ian also wanted to be able to separate the school meals enterprise away from that of his pub business so that the enterprise could be monitored.
PROJECT SUMMARY
The project has set up a catering unit within the existing kitchen of the Blacksmiths Arms, and has involved the sourcing, purchasing and installation of the equipment required to produce high quality school meals to stringent requirements. The kitchen has been completely re-designed in order to meet both the high volume of school meals produced daily and improve the efficiency of this highly complex new catering operation.
OUTCOMES
The kitchen has been completely re-designed
The Blacksmiths Arms now supplies 5 local primary schools with hot meals, and on average just over 300 meals are transported to the schools every day.
The project has provided valuable local employment and training with seven new members of staff employed as part of the school meal catering enterprise. This has had a positive effect on the local rural community in its own right, 6 people are employed on a job share, (3 people plus manager required on a daily basis). All six employees are parents of children at the schools and all but one were previously unemployed, the hours fit in with parental responsibility and can be flexible when shared. All the staff recruited have not had catering experience previously but have been given training and they now have all the skills necessary.
One of the benefits of providing a school meal service has been increased ingredient purchasing for the business thus allowing the whole business to benefit from economies of scale. Full use is made of seasonal vegetables, regular communication with suppliers is carried out and menus are adjusted accordingly.
Produce is sourced locally where applicable, this also helps with reducing the cost of the meal, as local seasonal produce is cheaper.
Being involved with such a project helps build upon the existing good name of the Pub business and quite often good feedback is received relating to the school meals, which can only be good publicity.
LESSONS TO LEARN
Blacksmiths Arms
- Rural pubs can offer a diverse range of services to the local community
- The project has received a great deal of positive publicity which has benefited the pub business overall
- The increased use of local suppliers has resulted in better economies of scale and lower purchasing costs
- The licensee demonstrated a clear vision and the ability to deliver the project
PROJECT CAPITAL COSTS (EXCLUDING VAT)
- Total project capital costs £12,512.12
- Applicant contribution £3,128.03
- East Midlands Development Agency grant contribution £9,384.09
LICENSEE CONTACT: Mr Ian Quill. Tel. 01652 678055
PUB OWNER: Independent
PUB IS THE HUB CONTACT: Mr Gordon Stewart. Tel. 01423 568987
Blacksmiths Arms school meals case study.pdf