YOUR Civic Catering Service

Jo scooped up the award for Individual Caterer of the Year at the LACA West Midlands Awards, which took place at Chateau Impney, Friday 13th October.

The Infants Jo caters for are not allowed to bring in packed lunches which results in a variety of dietary requirements for the individual children. Jo has invested a lot of time in to addressing the individual requirements to successfully feed all her children.

Recently Jo Parker has gone above and beyond to support Bellfield Schools in their celebration of their 60th Birthday. Bellfield Schools celebrated 60 years since opening and celebrated the day by all the children and staff wearing 50’s attire. The idea was generated by Jo and her catering team and started off by just the catering team being dressed in 50’s attire to be excelled across the 2 schools which we serve. Jo themed the Cityserve serving hatch counter in both the Infants & Nursery & Junior counter around a 50’s diner theme and it felt like you were on the set of Happy Days “The Fonz”. To also acknowledge the occasion Jo also made a decadent Bellfield School Chocolate 60th Birthday Cake. It was an excellent example of Cityserve employees interaction with the school to mark an extremely special occasion for the children, staff and visitors at Bellfield School.

Lynne Reeves School Business Manager, Bellfield Junior School commented “Jo has improved the catering facility at Bellfield Junior School increasing the uptake of meals. She always puts 100% commitment to providing a healthy stimulating eating environment for the children. An example of this is mentioned above, the schools 60th Birthday. Again, she decorated the school serving hatch as she has done on other on other themed lunch days.  Jo made all her own props around the edge of the serving area. She is a valued member of Bellfield staff and I do not have any hesitation in commending her for the individual award.”

“When we asked Jo about doing a different lunch for our schools’ 60th birthday. She was very enthusiastic and we decided on an American 50’s diner theme with burgers, hotdogs or mac n cheese. However, Jo also made cupcakes for every child in both schools (approx 400) as celebration cakes and, in her own time, made signage to give the hatches a 50s diner feel, Belle’s Diner. Unbeknown to us, Jo also made a celebration 60 cake, with candles, to cut with the Lord Mayor and then share with staff. This is on top of all the extra Jo has done. If we have visitors, Jo will make sure they are fed or make a buffet for the visitors, such as when we had Ofsted. Further, she has prepared buffets for our Governors meetings, which have been known to last 2.5hours+. In January 18, we are looking at hosting a charity meal for homeless and /or lonely people and Jo has volunteered to support this. Jo has been an asset to our school since her arrival and always willing to go that extra mile” Nigel Attwood, Headteacher.

Congratulations to Jo and thank you for your hard work, dedication and for always going the extra mile. A well deserved win!