Recruitment drive points way towards Pay As You Dine

Catering managers from hospitals, schools and hotels, together with HCIMA members, participated in an RAF activity day to showcase career opportunities in the armed forces last week.

The day was part of a recruitment drive, which comes at a time when the Ministry of Defence and the three main defence contract caterers - Eurest, Sodexho, and Aramark - are testing out an important change in the way soldiers pay for their meals.

If successful, Pay As You Dine could replace the current national system under which soldiers pay in advance through deductions from their wages.

Last week Eurest started the third trial for the new scheme at RAF Henlow, in Bedfordshire. A further seven schemes start early next year and the system will be assessed at the end of 2003.

Lieutenant Colonel Phil Lewis, a member of the Pay As You Dine team, said the new system would provide a greater choice of food and opening hours.