Cateys 2026: Education and Training Award – Sonia Phelps, Thomas Franks

At a time when UK hospitality faces acute labour shortages, generational workforce shifts and rising client expectations, Sonia Phelps has repositioned education and training as a strategic engine for growth at contract caterer Thomas Franks.

Since her appointment as head of learning and development in 2022, Phelps has embedded a culture of possibility across all levels within the company, placing individuality, inclusivity and motivation at the core of her work.

Her approach is built around four pillars: neurodiversity, apprenticeships, pathways to hospitality careers, and sustainability and charity.

Recognising that neurodiverse learners benefit from adaptable, experiential and feedback-rich training, Phelps revamped programmes and their delivery in her first year, raising training satisfaction from 63% to 87%. She introduced mandatory Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging training for all managers and 97% have now completed a neurodiversity course, developing awareness across the leadership.

She recognised that female leaders want the time and space to explore their ambitions alongside other women, and introduced a Women in Leadership course to help women develop the confidence to undertake new challenges. Of the first cohort in 2024, seven out of nine participants are now in promoted roles.

Phelps developed a sector-leading apprenticeship programme, offering apprenticeships at all levels and across all facets of the business. The TF Chef Academy supplements the apprentice syllabus with craft training from renowned chefs including Tom Aikens, and apprenticeships have also been introduced to the HR team, with Level 3, 5 and 7 courses on offer. As a result, apprenticeship completion rates are an impressive 94% compared to a 35% national average.

Phelps is also nurturing talent earlier than traditional pathways allow through initiatives such as the Young Apprentice programme for 12- to 16-year-olds, which inspires teenagers with a passion for cooking through masterclasses, events and mentoring. Six former young apprentices are now employed full-time, with three more joining in August.

Linking eco-leadership with further education, Phelps launched a sustainability and environmental apprenticeship, with masterclasses from chefs including zero-waste culinary adviser Vojtech Vegh. The first cohort has 28 delegates.

Her leadership has allowed the Thomas Franks Foundation, which provides hot meals to homeless people, to triple its impact by developing a training programme for location managers to manage batch cooking done by volunteers and identify distribution networks. The TF Foundation now serves one million meals annually, significantly reducing food poverty.

As a result of Phelps’ work, 91% of Thomas Franks employees agree with the statement ‘learning and development is for everyone’ – a remarkable statistic that demonstrates her lasting impact on the company and its people.

With her multifaceted approach and success in so many key areas, it is no wonder that judges unanimously agreed Phelps is the standout winner of this year’s Education and Training Award.

What the judges said

“Phelps’ approach exemplifies a philanthropic ethos to both education and training. She has produced a body of work that provides a benchmark for other hospitality companies to follow.” Andrew Boer

“Phelps has had a multi-dimensional impact across a wide range of industry and community activities, with the considerable breadth including neurodiversity, sustainability and charity.” Professor Peter Jones

The shortlist

• Andy Mackenzie, Exclusive Chefs’ Academy
• Sam Marshall-Davies, MCFT
• Sonia Phelps, Thomas Franks
• Neil Rippington, Royal Academy of Culinary Arts
• Mathew Shropshall, College of Food, University College Birmingham

The judges

• Andrew Boer, Edge Hotel School 
• Michael Coaker, University of West London
• John Cousins, the Food and Beverage Training Company
• Adrian Ellis, Hospitality Action 
• Professor Peter Jones, the CRUMBS Project
• Cyrus Todiwala, Mr Todiwala’s Academy