How to win: Catering Services

About this contract

The Trust invites expressions of interest from suitably qualified catering providers for the provision of school catering services across nine schools within the Trust (based in Plymouth, Torquay and Newton Abbott). Current value of contract is £850,000. The contract will include: • Daily pupil meal provision • Free School Meal provision • Hospitality services • Nutritional compliance • Sustainability objectives • Social value commitments The procurement will be conducted under the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Interested suppliers must demonstrate: • Relevant education sector experience • Financial stability • Appropriate insurances • Safeguarding compliance • Food safety management systems • TUPE experience The estimated contract commencement date is 1 April 2027.

How to win contracts like this

• ✓Answer against the marking scheme, not the question text — CONNECT ACADEMY TRUST scores each response, so map your evidence to the published criteria and weightings.
• ✓At £850,000, expect quality and social value to carry a large share of the score — price alone rarely wins services work.
• ✓Show recent, comparable delivery: name similar services contracts you've delivered for public bodies, with measurable outcomes.
• ✓Start early: it closes 23 November 2026 and a strong bid takes iteration.

BidWriter drafts your responses from your company profile, scores them against the marking scheme, and tracks your whole pipeline. Free to start — no card needed.

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