A real achievement for TUCO

By Matthew White, Chair of The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO) and Director of Campus Commerce at University of Reading

Julian Owen

Now in my third year as TUCO Chair, I’m extremely proud to see the TUCO team continue to grow from strength to strength and what a year it’s been! Back in April our Academy won the Cost Sector Catering training and development award and, in October, the procurement team won a Foodservice Catey for procurement team of the year.

In 2018, we saw the launch of several new procurement services, including our further competition service and TUCO local. We also saw the launch of TUCO’s Master’s degree in hospitality leadership in universities and the public sector, which is due to start in the New Year.

The degree is the result of a two-year collaboration between TUCO and London South Bank University. The course consists of six modules, namely: leadership; strategy; marketing; product development; sustainable operations; and a bespoke comparative study field trip.

In 2018, we saw the launch of several new procurement services, including our further competition service and TUCO local.

While on the course, our Academy will offer access to resources, such as its commissioned research and mentoring to members, as well as financial support for fees for TUCO members.

This year, there was one lifetime experience I will never forget. Mike Haslin and I travelled to Malawi to see first-hand how our members’ generous donations have positively affected school children. The
trip was taken in conjunction with Mary’s Meals, a charity providing life-changing meals to children every school day. We have proudly donated enough funds to ensure Mlambe Primary School and Milare Primary School can provide a meal every school day to its children until 2020. Going forward, we pledge to set higher donation targets for coming years and extend the partnership.

Looking ahead, our next major event is TUCO Competitions at the University of Warwick, on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 March. This is our annual skills competitions, which sees more than 50 of our members and 150 delegates compete against each other in a wide range of activities. Entry is open now so get your applications in.

For more information, visit tuco.ac.uk