The Keys Academy Trust - Catering Services (2026)
- Buyer
- THE KEYS ACADEMY TRUST
- Value
- £3,695,000
- Closes
- 4 December 2026
- Where
- Reading, the South East
- Type
- Open tender
In plain English
The Keys Academy Trust is tendering for a contractor to run a full school lunch service across all its schools, for pupils and staff. The contract is for the 2026/27 academic year onwards, with the Trust reporting 2,904 pupils, of whom 1,142 are entitled to universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) and 222 to free school meals.
What the buyer wants
• Provide a full lunch service on every school day at all Trust sites, using the dining areas in the main halls and the kitchen and servery facilities. • Work with the Trust to increase pupil uptake and continuously improve the service, including introducing new menu ideas and initiatives. • Take on the existing catering staff under TUPE (the UK staff transfer rules), with details set out in the tender documentation.
Requirements
What could rule a small business out: The estimated value of £3,695,000 is likely beyond most small businesses' capacity, and the expected TUPE transfer of existing staff means the winning supplier would need to be ready to take on and manage an existing workforce.
Always check the tender documents.
How to bid
This is an open tender: any eligible business can respond directly to the buyer by the deadline, with no framework membership needed.
Where to apply
Bids go through In-Tend. Make a free account there, then search for this tender's title.
Questions about this tender? Email the buyer at tenders@minervapcs.com.
How to write a tender response
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