At HCL, December is always a special time of year, filled with tradition and teamwork. One of our cherished customs is for head office staff to step out of their usual roles and provide hands-on support to our incredible kitchen teams for Christmas lunch service, as General Catering Assistants.
Why? Because December is the busiest time of the year in our kitchens, with Christmas lunches being a much-anticipated highlight for schools across the region. It’s a joyous but demanding period, and every helping hand makes a difference.
From the very start of their journey with HCL, every employee undergoes comprehensive training and regular refresher courses, ensuring they are well-prepared to roll up their sleeves and dive into kitchen life. This is something we’re immensely proud of, as it allows us all to stay connected with the heart of what we do—serving nutritious and delicious meals to school children.
Our CEO, John Want, has visited 3 schools, one of them being Little Green Junior School in Rickmansworth to lend a hand and support Emma and her team. John’s task? Taking on the all-important “pot wash” duties!
On his day spent in the kitchen, John said "It has been great to get out and see one of our kitchens on their busiest day of the year. I was delighted to see the high standards Emma and the team have, which was reflected in the smiley faces of the children and the staff. My wife will be equally delighted to see I can actually do the washing up!"
Duncan Roberts, Head Teacher at Little Green Junior School, shared just how much the Christmas lunch means to their pupils:
“It’s been a special treat for the children. We love working with Herts Catering (HCL) and your team are fantastic. We are very lucky to have you in our school!”
Emma, the HCL Head Cook at Little Green, gave John high marks for his efforts in the kitchen, saying he did an excellent job tackling the washing up. Emma and her team worked tirelessly to prepare, cook, and serve over 300 Christmas lunches under 2 hours—a monumental achievement and a testament to their dedication and team work. Well done on delivering a spectacular service!
The festive spirit doesn’t stop there. Across our schools, kitchen teams have been going above and beyond to make Christmas lunches truly magical. From beautifully decorated service hatches to dazzling Christmas jumpers and intricately crafted cookies and desserts, the effort and creativity on display have been phenomenal.
Make sure you’re following us on social media to see more of the incredible work our kitchen staff are doing this festive season. They’re making Christmas lunch a delicious and memorable occasion for pupils and school staff alike. A huge thank you to every single member of the HCL family for your hard work and holiday cheer—you’re all simply amazing!
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