Bolton School is pleased to announce its intention to embark upon an exciting new partnership with caterers Thomas Franks, to provide all of the School's catering services from the start of the Summer Term onwards.
The planned partnership would mark a significant change in the School's catering provision, and has been initiated as part of its ongoing commitment to ensuring that the education and experience our pupils enjoy at Bolton School remains of the highest quality, whilst offering exceptional value-for-money for parents.
Thomas Franks' 20 years' experience as a family-owned, market-leading caterer within the independent school sector, and reputation for providing nutritious food of the highest standard, make it the ideal partner to deliver upon this commitment. The company's founding, enduring ethos is the provision of fresh, locally-sourced food, created by fully-trained staff. This ongoing pledge to delivering food of the highest quality alongside maintaining its' staff wellbeing has achieved much recognition, most recently through the company's inclusion in The Sunday Times' Best Places to Work list, its Gold Investors in People accreditation and its receipt of a Catey Award for Health and Nutrition.
The School's in-house catering team have provided generations of pupils and staff with their lunches and refreshments, and would continue to play a pivotal role in the provision of catering at the School once the partnership began. Following a period of consultation, colleagues in the catering team would have their employment transferred to Thomas Franks in accordance with TUPE regulations; from the start of the Summer Term, they would then work as one team, alongside Thomas Franks colleagues, to deliver the daily catering requirements of each of the three Divisions of the School.
Blain Shepherd, UK Managing Director at Thomas Franks, commented: "We are thrilled with our planned partnership with Bolton School, and their intention that we should act as their new caterers. This proposed partnership brings a sense of excitement to everyone here at Thomas Franks and we are looking forward to hopefully providing the catering services at the School from the start of the Summer Term. We're confident that Thomas Franks' focus on quality and exceptional service will align perfectly with the School's objectives for its catering provision, and we are wholeheartedly committed to delivering a dining experience for pupils, staff and visitors that not only meets, but exceeds, their expectations. We can't wait to embark on this new venture and to being part of the Bolton School community."
During the remainder of the Spring Term, colleagues from the School's catering team will work alongside Thomas Franks' expert staff to prepare for the proposed launch of the partnership after Easter. Closer to then, parents will receive further information about Thomas Franks' credentials and commitments, and how they will accommodate the specific dietary requirements and allergies within the School community.
Philip Britton, MBE, Head of Foundation at Bolton School, concluded: "I am delighted that the School has been able to work with Thomas Franks, to develop this planned partnership and thus initiate this next exciting stage in its catering provision. Thomas Franks’ commitment to nutrition and its culinary expertise would ensure that pupils and staff enjoy tasty, healthy meals each lunchtime, that cater to the diverse tastes and dietary requirements of our School community. Our shared commitment to staff training, sustainability and using local suppliers, and Thomas Franks' long-standing experience in the independent school sector, means they would be the ideal partner to deliver the School's catering provision, and I am sure this proposed new venture would bring many benefits to the School and its local community."
