ASSIST FM are delighted to announce that their campaign, Inch by Inch for Scotland, was awarded the best Marketing Campaign award at the Cost Sector Catering Awards in London on Thursday 5th April. This is the first time we have put ASSIST FM up for an award so we were delighted to win it. The campaign has been running since September 2017 and will run to at least December 2018. Since September we have created over 75 videos, the campaign website, social media channels, and printed material for secondary schools and shops across Scotland. The campaign utilises social media and so far we have had over 1,300 follow us on Facebook, with a page reach of 14,095. Since our launch, we have had over 40,000 minutes of video watched and over 77,000 individual video views. On Twitter, we have had 162,500 impressions in the last month alone. As well as this we have had coverage of the campaign in The Times, STV coverage Lunchtime and Evening News, and two 15 minute interviews on BBC Radio Scotland. We have also had coverage in every national Scottish newspaper. The last roadshow in Holyrood Academy received press coverage in over 120 publications across the UK.

Quotes on the campaign:

Paul Carberry, Director for Service Development, Action for Children Scotland;

‘Not sure if you heard about Jordan’s latest news. Our media guy Craig fixed him up a meeting with BBC Social. They have offered Jordan paid work presenting Online programmes on cooking and will train him as a presenter with a view to presenting BBC television programmes. There is a god!!! That in itself is some outcome for SG on Inch by Inch. At this rate you should be going for campaign of the year (Seriously)’

Cyrus Todiwala, BBC Presenter and Restaurateur

A Programme such as this ought to go UK Wide and I hope it does just that. I have signed up and will also post these from our channels to a wider audience.Hopefully it will be a massive success. Good luck and wish you all the very best!

Cleland Sneddon, CEO Argyle & Bute Council

The Rothesay Roadshow was a fantastic example of how a school can take on the core message of the campaign and utilise these messages within the school curriculum. I’m going to taking part in some of these challenges and so is our Senior Management Team so watch out for future blogs and vlogs showing how we are getting on with those.

If you haven’t joined the campaign yet, go to www.inchbyinchforscotland.co.uk, and join our national prize-winning campaign!

Many thanks go to our main sponsors Muller Milk Ingredients. We would not have been able to win such a prestigious award without your support. Thanks also to CRB Cunninghams for their continued support, and to Green Gourmet for helping us purchase t-shirts for the roadshow events.

ASSIST FM IS ONCE AGAIN DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THE FOURTH YEAR OF THE SCOTTISH SCHOOL COOK OF THE YEAR COMPETITION.WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO OUR SPONSOR, MüLLER WISEMAN FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF OUR ORGANISATION AND FOR THEIR CONTINUED SPONSORSHIP OF THIS COMPETITION.

Scottish School Cook of the Year has grown in stature and has become a very popular and permanent fixture within the ASSIST FM Calendar of events. The Scottish School Cook of the Year Working Group has aimed to keep the mechanics of the competition as straightforward as possible and have enlisted the help of relevant experts when refining the judging criteria. We would urge you to read all of the competition rules and judging criteria carefully as some changes have been made to ensure a consistent approach throughout every stage of the competition. New: This year, due to the high standard of dishes in previous years, we have introduced recognition for ‘Best Main Course’ and ‘Best Dessert’. New for 2015 only: As 2015 is the Year of Food and Drink, the Scottish government and ASSIST are working together on a calendar of Scottish food related events to be held throughout 2015 by local authorities. As a result of this, a decision has been taken for SSCOTY 2015, that all entrants must include an item of Scottish produce in both the main course and dessert.ASSIST is delighted to announce that a HIT Scotland scholarship will be provided for the winner of the ASSIST Scottish School Cook of The Year contest each year. As a scholar, the winner will spend time working in an operational area or on a structured programme, allowing them to gain valuable knowledge, insight and confidence to get to the next level in their career. Please note that the winner must be not only be willing to take up the scholarship but should also have the commitment of their Local Authority to allow them the necessary time commitment prior to entering the competition.

Joe Queen the main Chef Judge of our national final said, “I have judged many competitions but the standard of this competition remains absolutely fantastic. Not only did all the competitors display superb working practices but their skills for creating such great tasting food on such a tight budget is testament to the skill set that exists throughout many Scottish schools. It is something we should be very proud of.”The overall aim of the competition is to raise the profile of the School Meals Sector in Scotland and to highlight the skills of those who are working hard on the front line of service delivery on a daily basis – can your authority afford not to be a part of this fantastic competition? We aim to give participating authorities as much support as possible and as National Chair I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best of luck and look forward to receiving all of your entries.

For the first time we have created a stand-alone website for the ASSIST FM Conference – www.assistfmconference.co.uk

Please visit it for more information about 2018’s Conference.The 18th ASSIST FM Conference takes place in Glasgow on 23-24 August 2018, with an exhibitor set up day on Wednesday 22 August. This year for our conference there is an ‘Agents of Change’ theme and we will be highlighting speakers relevant to the ‘Year of Young People’ who are our future Agents of Change!

We will also have our supplier exhibition and ASSIST FM National Awards:

ASSIST FM Scottish School Cook of The Year

BEBL School Award Winners

ASSIST FM Catering Team of The Year

ASSIST FM Cleaning Team of The Year

ASSIST FM School Crossing Patroller of The Year

ASSIST FM Janitor or Caretaker of the Year

ASSIST FM Making A Difference Award

ASSIST FM National Chair Award

Keep watching the Conference website for further details on speakers, and conference content.

At the ASSIST FM Conference Gala Dinner, the winner of the prestigious Scottish School Cook of the Year Competition 2019 was announced as Maria Millar from Knox Academy in East Lothian Council. Maria also came third in 2018’s competition and won the accolade in 2017!

For the Cook-off at The Cook School Scotland, Kilmarnock, Maria served up two delicious and healthy dishes of Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Sauce served with Primavera Rice and Three Milk Cake to become one of the top 3 finalists alongside Eleanor Geddes of East Ayrshire Council and Ann Marie Logan of Scottish Borders Council. The top 3 finalists then had to serve up their dishes during their school lunch service in order for the judges to ensure that their dishes are school compliant as well as to gauge the reception from school pupils.

The competition was judged by representatives of ASSIST FM, Alan Russell from Muller Milk & Ingredients who sponsor the competition, two secondary school pupils and Scotland’s National Chef and Masterchef the Professionals winner, Gary Maclean.

This year, Gary Maclean expressed that the dishes presented were of an extraordinary calibre and were restaurant quality. Well done to all the of this year’s finalists and huge congratulations to Maria Millar!

As well as the Scottish School Cook of the Year award, at the ASSIST FM Conference Gala Dinner, Keith Breasley presented an updated range of National Awards to recognise the incredible work of those in the Facilities Management sector.

ASSIST FM Outstanding Contribution to Catering 2019 – Sponsored by Brakes Scotland

Shortlees Primary School & Early Childhood Centre Catering Team, East Ayrshire Council

ASSIST FM Outstanding Contribution to Cleaning 2019 – Sponsored by Nilfisk Ltd

Janette White, Loudoun Academy, East Ayrshire Council

ASSIST FM Outstanding Contribution to FM Services 2019 – Sponsored by CRB Cunninghams

Margaret McFadden, Duncanrig Secondary, South Lanarkshire Council

ASSIST FM Outstanding Service Innovation Award 2019 – Sponsored by Inhouse Manager

South Ayrshire Council Catering Services

ASSIST FM Outstanding Culinary Skills Award 2019 – Decorated Cake – Sponsored by Upfield

Sarah Grady, West Lothian

ASSIST FM Outstanding Culinary Skills Award 2019 – Petit Fours

Debbie Laurie, East Ayrshire Council

ASSIST FM Supplier of the Year 2019

Green Gourmet

ASSIST FM Special Recognition Award 2019

Angela Russell

Congratulations to all of this 2019’s award winners!

ASSIST FM, along with Hobart UK and Brakes Scotland, masterminded a plan to reduce the food wastage from this year’s exhibition, and really help out a local organisation, Lanarkshire Community Food & Health Partnership, in the process.

Exhibitors at the ASSIST FM Conference Exhibition this year were encouraged to place any dry, chilled or frozen goods that were not used during the exhibition at designated areas in the exhibition hall so that they could be donated to local charity where the left-over food would then be donated to foodbanks across Lanarkshire.

A big thank you goes to Roger Kellow of Hobart UK for organising such a great and simple initiative that helps the people who need it most and reduced unnecessary food wastage!

It has been three years since the last face to face ASSIST FM Conference. So when the 2022 Conference, themed ‘The Road To Recovery’ took place on the 17th and 18th May at the Glasgow Hilton, it was a huge success with the biggest delegate turnout ever.

‍

Jayne Jones, National Chair of ASSIST FM stated, ‘It has been a hugely challenging time for everyone, not least our staff and suppliers. It was just fantastic to see how many people came to the conference and were able to network. After such a long period of time when we were using online meetings, everyone enjoyed the chance to catch up face to face’

‍

The Conference had 60 exhibitors. The seminar sessions led by past Chair Keith Breasley included talks from Paul O’Brien, CEO APSE, Professor Mary Brennan of Edinburgh University, Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Jim Fairlie, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, Paul Rankin, Michelin Starred Chef, Professor John McKendrick of Caledonian University, Professor Don Bundy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Sarah Watters, COSLA’s Director of Membership and Resource, Cameron Smith from SCLD, Jennifer Scott, and Linda Nelson of Dumfries &Galloway Council, and Ian Midwinter CEO of Scran Academy.

‍

Talks ranged from the Scottish Government relaunch of A Good Food Nation, as well as thoughts on the Hospitality Industry, employment opportunities for people with Learning Disabilities, school health and nutrition and programmes on cleaning and catering that have really been positive forces during the pandemic.

‍

Derek Wright, Blackpool Catering Services, David Cochrane, CEO of HIT Scotland, and Rose King, Regional Manager, Career Ready also held a session on their own thoughts about the future of hospitality.

‍

ASSIST FM also published a new cookery book that can be used by all Scottish Local Authorities, and is fully nutritionally analysed as per the Government guidelines.

‍

The Gala Dinner included 8 National Awards. Hosted by Deacon Blue drummer and TV presenter, Dougie Vipond, the winners were announced in the various categories, as follows:

‍

Outstanding Contribution to Cleaning 

Dumfries & Galloway Council

‍

Outstanding Contribution to Catering

Sponsored by Muller Milk & Ingredients

Robert Steven, South Lanarkshire Council

‍

Outstanding Contribution to FM Services

Renfrewshire Council

‍

Outstanding Collaboration and Local Authority Innovation Award

Sponsored by Parent Pay

Shetland Council

‍

Suppliers of The Year 

Quorn Foods and Harfield

‍

ASSIST FM Committee Special Award

Rachel Cunningham

‍

ASSIST Special Recognition Award

Nicky Joiner, East Renfrewshire Council

‍

Here are some quotes from the attendees:

‘It was a terrific two days and as a first post pandemic conference for me it was a most interesting and thoroughly enjoyable event. Good speakers on broad range of topics , fab exhibition , brilliant recipe book and the usual warm friendly atmosphere that the ASSIST ethos permeates at its events. Plus a new logo!

The event showed the resilience and good spirit of ‘can do’ for the sector in Scotland despite some really difficult times. I found that most heartening indeed.’

Lindsay Graham, Poverty & Inequality Commissioner

‍

‘We got to meet new people, like Levi Roots and had the opportunity to showcase some of our latest software. Customers were highly impressed with our meal analysis solution. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello! It was great to see you all in person again.’

CRB Cunninghams

‍

‘Thank you ASSIST FM for having Tugo at your event. It was great to catch up with so many people, and have positive feedback, on our range of products.’ 

Steve Guttteridge Tugo

‍

For further information please contact alan@totalizemedia.co.uk or

sarah.duff@totalizemedia.co.uk.

‍

The 2006 A.S.S.I.S.T. Conference tackled many of the difficult issues that are currently affecting the membership. Issues such as Equal Pay, Promoting Health in Schools, How to be a Successful Woman in Business and also Partnership Working. Chaired by Fergus Chambers, Chair A.S.S.I.S.T, the first session of the conference was opened by Pat Watters with a typically challenging and thought-provoking talk. Paul O’Brien CEO APSE and Alex Linkston, CEO of West Lothian Council joined the debate. The Leading Ladies session hosted by Viv Lumsden saw three business women with very interesting takes on how to become successful in male dominated industries. Diane West, Assistant Managing Director of The Daily Record and Sunday Mail, Samantha Barbour, Chief Executive of Scottish Business in the Community, and Fiona Lees, Chief Executive, East Ayrshire Council discussed their take on how they have become a success in their respective fields. Paul O’Brien, CEO APSE, Margaret Paterson, Leader of Clackmannanshire Council and Grant Henderson, Operations Director, Amey Business Services, discussed the hot topic of Partnership Working, and Dr Roberta Sonnino from Cardiff University gave a fascinating talk on how Italians source local and organic food and the contrasting attitudes within the Italian culture that could provide a positive affect for our own school meal provision.

Our supplier exhibition was a great success with over fifteen new suppliers attending amongst the 54 exhibitors. The Chairperson’s Award for Services to the Industry was presented to Gillian Kynoch of the Scottish Executive for her work in supporting Scottish Councils in the Hungry For Success programme.

The 2007 ASSIST Conference was deemed a great success by exhibitors and delegates alike.

Here are some of the comments:

Alan Brown, Ideal Services – ‘It was the best Conference yet!’

David Scialfe, AG Barr – ‘The exhibition has been great’

Charles Cooper, Jiffy Trucks – ‘Thank you for a superb event’

Michael Boyd, Meiko – ‘I expect places will be taken up quite early for next year’

Rachel Brown, Green Gourmet – ‘We had a great conference and…were able to speak to most of the Scottish authorities about our new products’

Fergus Chambers, Director, Glasgow Direct Care Services – The programme was excellent and some of the speakers were quite superb’

Margaret Gilmour, Service Manager, Stirling Council – ’It was an excellent event. The speakers on day two were especially good’The 2007 ASSIST Conference theme was The Big Picture and the speakers certainly made delegates think about some of the bigger issues. Our keynote speaker Colin Mair, Chief Executive of the Improvement Service, raised some important issues for local government in the future.

Adam Ingram, Minister for Children and Early Years, outlined some of the elements that will make up the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) Scotland Act.

Simon Miller, from Best Foot Forward, gave us some interesting examples of carbon foot printing within organisations, and what climate change means for the planet.

Patrick Tansey motivated the delegates to smile through their working day. Hands up …who is still laughing like Muttley?On the second day we had an entertaining and enlightening talk from Colin Ransom on the Sunderland Council experience. Bill McGregor gave us the view from the Headteacher, whilst our final speaker, Gordon MacMillan (‘The Deliverer’) showed how obesity could be tackled outside of the school gates with the MEND Programme. The ASSIST Chair Award went to Robin Gourlay, of East Ayrshire Council, for his work on the introduction of organic food and for representing Scottish Local Authorities in such a positive light. The exhibition was a great success with 14 new suppliers attending. One of the newcomers, Innocent Smoothies, won the Best Stand award. All in all, a very successful conference. The ASSIST Committee would like to thank all delegates and suppliers for taking part.

The 2008 ASSIST Conference was deemed the best yet by exhibitors and delegates alike. Here are some of the comments:

Charles Cooper, NEC Trailers – ‘a great exhibition, we should do some good business from it’

Bruce Geary, Clackmannanshire Council – ’The speakers were superb’

Tom Carlton, Muller – ‘A most enjoyable conference’

Bill Kennedy. Tayside Contracts – ‘It was obvious that there was a lot of hard work put in. The conference was excellent’

The Conference theme was ‘The Final Frontier’ and although Mr Spock didn’t appear and the Chair of ASSIST, Catherine Nelson, did not get beamed up by Scotty there was a lot to talk about. Keynote speaker Lady Marie Stubbs was both thought-provoking and highly entertaining. Alastair MacNish was as controversial as usual as he spelt out his own thoughts on the Concordat. Iain Ramsay told the conference about the changes at Learning and Teaching Scotland and Fergus Chambers gave a very illuminating talk on the catering operation at the Beijing Olympics as well as plans for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. On the second day workshops took place with Gordon MacMillan, Charlie MacLean Bristol and Diane Leask. Toni McIlindon brought us up to date on legal implications for 2008/2009 and the conference was brought to an end by Mo Shapiro who made us all imagine problem people as dots in the distance. The exhibition was a great success with 11 new suppliers attending. 3663 won the Best Stand award. The ASSIST Chair Award went to Anne Lennie, of the City of Edinburgh Council, for services to the industry and The ASSIST Best Achiever Award was given to St Margaret’s Academy in Livingston. Andrea Bradley collected the award on behalf of the school. A terrific conference once again and the ASSIST Committee would like to thank all delegates and suppliers for taking part.