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Eat Central, one of the main dining areas on the University of Sussex campus

The University has announced Chartwells as its preferred bidder for catering and conference services, as part of the detailed procurement process which began in May 2012. The new partner is expected to take up full operational responsibility on campus from 1 September 2013.

The goal of the University in appointing an external partner for catering and conference services is to bring about a significant improvement in services, tackle a chronic deficit and allow the services to make a step change and grow as student numbers increase at the University. If catering and conference services successfully grow in line with plans, the University would expect jobs and employment opportunities to increase as well.

The agreement will see the University and Chartwells working together to deliver an improved food and dining experience for the whole of the University of Sussex community, with additional investment and benefits such as:

• A greater variety of food and choices across cafés, which will have distinctive offerings to meet the needs of the University’s 15,000 students and staff. Competitive prices to suit different pockets. Offerings that respond more quickly to changing trends in food tastes and habits. A commitment to using local produce from local suppliers, as well as Fairtrade ingredients.
• Substantial investment in campus cafés and restaurants to deliver improved services, with initial refreshment for a number of cafés in readiness for September, and further investment and improvement in facilities over time. Chartwells is committing to a long-term capital investment programme, with funds set aside to refresh facilities over the period of the contract.
• Returning a financial surplus to Sussex, compared to the continued year-on-year deficit in current catering of £500-600k. This growth is based on improved turnover as the new partner better meets the needs of growing numbers on campus.
• A variety of systems improvements such as card payments. (Currently all cafés can accept only cash.) Electronic point-of-sale information and customer feedback to allow better understanding of café use and improve service to customers. Better online information for customers. New booking and payments systems for conferences, and online ordering for catering at University events and meetings.
• More and improved training and development opportunities for staff working in catering and conference services so they can develop in their roles and provide an even better standard of service.
• The creative input of local chef Ben McKellar from the renowned Gingerman Restaurant Group in Brighton. Ben will work as a consultant chef for campus hospitality and event dining.
• Extensive experience, systems and processes that help to deliver a sustainable operation, supporting the University’s goals for carbon reduction and environmental sustainability.
• Job opportunities on campus for Sussex students with a commitment to maintain the current level of such opportunities. Plus work placement opportunities for Sussex students in the wider company.

John Duffy, Registrar and Secretary, said: “After many months of detailed discussion, we feel confident that we have found the right choice of partner for Sussex. Chartwells is an innovative, world-class organisation with extensive experience in higher education. They have demonstrated that they have the right approach, systems, processes, technology, training and management to make a real difference to the services at Sussex.

“We are now looking forward to getting services ready for the start of September so that our students, staff and visitors can enjoy the benefits of this new partnership.”

Robin Mills, Managing Director of Chartwells, said: “We are delighted to be working with such a prestigious university as Sussex and are excited to be part of such a great campus. Throughout the tender process we have worked closely with the University to understand their ethos, vision and aspirations for their catering, hospitality and conference services.

“We truly recognise what the University would like to achieve for its students, staff and visitors and we are confident we can enhance the experience for all through our fantastic offers, new facilities, innovation and creativity. We shall deliver great services which benefit the whole of the University of Sussex community.”

Founded in 1991, Chartwells is a part of the Compass Group, one of the world’s leading food and support services companies. Compass Group is a UK FTSE 100 company and is a major UK employer, with more than 50,000 permanent employees, supporting communities at over 7,000 client sites across numerous sectors: from employee restaurants to coffee shops, government sites to corporate hospitality, and school meals to executive dining.

Chartwells provides services at more than 25 universities, including UCL, Manchester and Cambridge, and have established relationships with clients that have lasted over 15 years. Chartwells works with clients’ individual requirements and expectations to create a tailored service provision.

Current catering and conference services staff will transfer under TUPE (the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006), which provides protection to terms and conditions. TUPE information and consultation with the campus trades unions and with the staff transferring will now take place.

Rates of pay for transferring staff are not affected by this change. The University has already provided assurances to staff in relation to pensions, core terms and conditions and access to campus services, such as sport, car parking and the library. A small number of staff have opted to take Early Retirement/Voluntary Severance as an alternative to transfer. There are no compulsory redundancies involved in the transfer.

Jane Summerville, Director of Human Resources, said: “We have had constructive discussions with our trades unions and with directly affected staff since May 2012.

“Those discussions, which have been approached professionally and diligently by the trades unions, have led to the positive outcomes, including the agreement now reached on pensions and the assurances which we have been able to provide to our staff.

“Catering and conference services staff will continue to be a key part of the community on campus.”

A detailed process for managing the transition is being led by the Director of Estate Services, Martin Chalker, working with the team from Chartwells to prepare for the new services. Until 1 September, current services and processes continue to operate. Although there will be some service improvements from 1 September, the initial emphasis will be on a smooth transition to be in readiness for the new academic year. More extensive development and improvements will take place from 2014 onwards.

The new partner is expected to continue to provide its services under the Sussex Food name.

Information to staff and students on the new catering services will be shared with the community as the transition process continues.

The University announced in May 2012 that it was seeking to work with external partners for catering and for facilities management. The contract for catering and conference services is for 10 years.

The “competitive dialogue” process for identifying a potential provider for facilities management continues. The University is still looking at a date in October 2013 for the transfer of facilities management. Once the new partner for facilities management is identified, they will work closely with the partner for catering and conference services.