Kelham Hall deal distances BCS from school meal sector

In its latest move to diversify from the troubled school meals sector, BET Catering Services (BCS) has clinched a catering contract at Kelham Hall, a Victorian function suite and conference centre in Nottinghamshire.

BCS will feed 120 staff in an on-site restaurant and cater for a range of functions, from weddings to snooker tournaments. The contract, which begins in January, is worth £2m in turnover over four years.

Kelham Hall, near Newark, is owned by Newark and Sherwood Council. The contract was previously held by the council's direct service organisation, which is believed to have been among the bidders for the new contract.

The win follows a turbulent time for BCS in the school meals market, with arguments over quality and portion size at its contracts in Stockport and Lancashire.

Kelham Hall is the third function venue contract for BCS. It also provides catering at Shire Hall in Reading, Berkshire, owned by Berkshire County Council, and Ladybridge Hall in Bolton, Lancashire, owned by the Greater Manchester Ambulance Service.

Ruston Toms, business development manager at BCS, said he hoped to add more function and conference venue contracts to the firm's portfolio next year.

"We've been labelled as being an educational caterer and we're hoping to really go for it next year when we change our name to Initial Catering," he said. "Our parent company, Rentokil, is very keen for us to expand our business."