In-house education catering is often seen as the best option, as it allows you to deliver the service that’s best fit for your school, academy or college. You know your pupils’ needs and we have the expertise to help you meet them.
We don’t just consult, we are an integral part of your catering and school team. We work with your staff to put delicious, healthy meals on the table every day and we help you to manage the running of your catering service.
Consultancy – Looking for experts to help improve your catering?
We believe in keeping your needs our focus.
We review your current catering, listen to your needs and discuss what changes and improvements you’d like to make. Our service is very flexible, we know that every school is different.
We then create a bespoke solution for delivering your catering in house, from menus to training we advise and support you on all aspects of the service.
“CMC recognised what we wanted to achieve and have helped us to embed the school meal ethos we wanted for our children.”
Elaine Pugh, School Business Manager
Management – Does managing the service seem like a huge task?
We believe in taking the day-to-day issues away from you.
We provide a dedicated management support service; we are the first point of call for your catering manager and all our consultants are available by phone anytime. This gives you the peace of mind to know you are supported all the way.
Once your catering is up and running, we work with you to manage it and keep you informed of service performance through regular service audits and monthly phased budgets.
Education catering is what we do, our experts allow you to focus on the school whilst we focus on your catering.
Finance – Not sure what catering costs?
We believe that school catering finance should be simple.
From an initial budget proposal to monthly phased budgets, our CMC Tracker Finance system ensures that you are always up to date with the financial aspects of your catering service. CMC Tracker Finance is designed specifically for school catering and the needs of your Catering Team. It allows you to manage; catering accounts, stock control, orders and incomes.
Our Tracker Finance produces high quality, financial reports that are suitable to present to school governors, quickly and efficiently. We train your team on the system and provide ongoing support.
Food – Looking for great food on the plate?
We believe that quality produce is core to good food.
The food on the plate is important to us; our core belief is that every child should receive the best possible lunch. To ensure this we budget for a higher plate cost and select and audit our suppliers diligently. We choose our suppliers with care and work with like-minded companies who put customers first. We source suppliers who offer quality products at the right price; we want to be sure of who we recommend to you.
We work with your catering team on menu development, ensuring that consultation takes place throughout the school in order to create a menu bespoke to you. We check that your menus are compliant with the School Food Standards, allergens and special diets. We also ensure that your catering team are trained to deliver the menu and meet the budgets that we set with you.
“The children in my school love their lunchtime menu as it is catered to them through thorough meetings with school council, which Steve (CMC Catering Consultant) attends.”
Natalie Taylor, Primary School Catering Manager
Training – Worried about training your catering staff?
We believe that training is key to delivering a successful service.
As a Highfield approved centre, we train all your catering staff to Level 2 Food safety and run course for managers and supervisors to complete a Level 3 qualification.
We’ve also developed a suite of bespoke in-house training courses using EdApp – a leading mobile learning platform. Our courses include key topics such as Food Safety, Allergen Management, Health & Safety Awareness, and Kitchen Equipment Safe Systems of Work, all designed specifically for catering teams.
This benefits the users with flexible, bite-sized learning that can be accessed anytime, anywhere, with interactive content to boost engagement and retention. For schools, this means consistent, high-quality training delivery across teams, clear compliance tracking and reporting on progression, and greater confidence in meeting regulatory standards.
Our consultants are experienced chefs and caterers who will assist your team with hands-on cooking skills and service marketing ideas.
Legal Compliance – Not sure about rules and regulations?
Legal Compliance Made Simple – We’ve Got Your Kitchen Covered
Navigating the world of food safety and legal compliance can be daunting—especially when bringing catering services in-house. But with CMC, you’re never alone. We’re here to ensure your kitchen doesn’t just meet legal standards—it sets the benchmark.
Worried About Changing Regulations? Don’t Be.
Regulations are always evolving, and staying compliant isn’t optional—it’s essential. That’s why our CMC Tracker was developed: an easy-to-use online compliance system that keeps your kitchen safe, secure, and fully in line with current legislation. From hygiene and allergen management to food storage and staff training, we’ve got every detail covered.
CMC has established a Primary Authority Partnership (PAP) with Wolverhampton City Council, providing us with direct access to a dedicated Environmental Health Officer (EHO). This partnership enables us to obtain reliable, business-specific regulatory advice tailored to the needs of our schools and associated businesses.
The advice provided through this partnership is “assured”, meaning that as long as CMC and its schools adhere to it, they should not face enforcement action from other local authorities. Our PAP acts as a critical friend—supporting us by identifying potential areas of concern and working proactively to ensure ongoing compliance with relevant regulations.
Total Confidence, From Delivery to Dining
We take a whole-kitchen approach to compliance—covering every stage of the food journey. From the moment ingredients arrive at your back door to the moment meals reach the plate, our systems ensure safety, traceability, and quality assurance every step of the way.
And it’s not just software—it’s expert support too. Our experienced consultants work alongside your team, offering guidance, updates, and reassurance when you need it most.
What Sets Us Apart?
- ✅ CMC Tracker: Real-time compliance tools built for schools
- ✅ Dedicated CMC Consultant: A named person with the experience, who knows your kitchen inside and out
- ✅ Termly Legal Compliance Audits: In-depth reviews to keep everything on track
- ✅ Ongoing Legislative Updates: We monitor the industry so you don’t have to
- ✅ Proactive Risk Management: Identify and fix issues before they become problems
Stay Ahead. Stay Compliant. Stay Confident.
Legal compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes—it’s about protecting your staff, your pupils, and your reputation. With CMC, you’ll always be a step ahead. We make the complex simple, the stressful manageable, and the standards achievable.
Ready to take control of your catering compliance?
Let’s talk. Our team is here to guide you every step of the way.
Want to find out more about what CMC do and how we can help you?