Stockport NHS Catering Team Earns National Recognition with Award Nominations
The catering team at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has once again demonstrated its commitment to excellence, securing shortlist positions for two prestigious national awards. This recognition highlights the team's dedication to providing high-quality, nutritious meals for patients, staff, and visitors at Stepping Hill Hospital.
Dual Nominations at Hospital Catering Association Awards
The team is in contention for two titles at this year's Hospital Catering Association (HCA) awards: 'Team of the Year' and 'Caterer of the Year' for their leader, support services manager Erica Bell. Under Erica's leadership for the past two years, the team has maintained exceptional standards through effective and supportive management.
Comprising chefs and catering assistants, the team serves a diverse range of individuals:
- Inpatients on the hospital wards
- Staff members in the restaurant
- Visitors and outpatients seeking meals
Commitment to Quality and Innovation
Daily operations focus on several key areas that have contributed to their award nominations:
- Preparing appetising meals with high-quality ingredients
- Ensuring excellent presentation of all dishes
- Implementing strategies to reduce food waste
- Developing special menus for theme days celebrating religious, cultural, and other events
- Providing international recipes and culinary diversity
The primary objective remains ensuring that patients, visitors, and staff receive optimal nutrition through carefully prepared meals.
Proven Track Record of Excellence
This is not the first time the Stockport NHS catering team has received national recognition. They have previously been designated as an 'exemplar site' by NHS England, serving as a model for other hospital catering teams across the country.
Additional achievements include:
- Being shortlisted for a Public Sector Catering Award earlier this year
- Apprentice chef Joe Omolo winning the joint title of 'NHS Chef of the Year' last year
- Erica Bell and colleague Shelley Pearson-Smith jointly winning the 'NHS Chef of the Year' title in 2022
Leadership Recognition and Future Prospects
Stephen Whitehead, head of facilities at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, expressed pride in the team's accomplishments: "Congratulations both to Erica and the whole catering team for their joint achievements of being shortlisted at this year's HCA Awards, putting them up there with the best in the country. It's great to see their high standards being honoured, and we wish them all the best for the awards."
The HCA Awards will be presented during the HCA Leadership and Development Forum, scheduled for April 14-15, 2026, at the Doubletree by Hilton Brighton Metropole. Winners will be announced at this event, placing the Stockport team in competition with the nation's top hospital catering professionals.
Stepping Hill Hospital, where the team operates, is located in Stockport, Greater Manchester, serving as a vital healthcare provider in the region with a catering department that continues to set national standards for quality and innovation.
