TUCO Launches First National Catering Recruitment Framework

The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO) has launched the first national catering recruitment framework for the Higher Education sector. Responding to demand from its members, the Recruitment Services Framework provides education caterers with a solution to the challenge of finding and retaining temporary staff.

Providing access to 12 specialist catering recruitment companies, including regional and national service providers, the framework gives HE operators instant access to skilled, temporary staff who understand the specific requirements of working in a catering environment.

The TUCO Recruitment Services Framework is built on flexibility and enables caterers to recruit staff, with as little as 24 hours’ notice, across a range of positions, from baristas and bar staff, through to head chefs and silver service front of house members.

Speaking about the new service, Nicola Mellor, TUCO Category Manager for the Recruitment Services Framework, said: “Working closely with our members and responding to their unique requirements, the Framework has been designed to make the recruitment process as easy and efficient as possible. The hassle of each universities tendering on their own has been removed and operators can agree their individual needs with the recruiters, who will then source and manage the effective provision of temporary, permanent and fixed-term staff.

“At TUCO we know that finding and recruiting staff with the certain skills needed to work in HE catering can not only be challenging but also expensive. When developing the framework, we conducted a member-led survey with 19 institutions and found a combined average spend of £4.5m per year on temporary recruitment. By going through the approved suppliers within the framework, university caterers can ensure value for money, as well as compliance to staffing legislation and regulations – ultimately helping to better manage the staffing process and reduce budgets.”

For more information on the TUCO Recruitment Services Framework and to see a list of the full suppliers, please visit tuco.ac.uk/buy

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