Gather & Gather agree £10m Edinburgh College deal in first step into FEHE

Gather & Gather has won a three-year contract to cover staff and student catering at Edinburgh College in a deal valued at £10m.

The catering arm of Mitie Group will now serve the 24,000 students across the college's campuses with a varied offering, including a street food van. Digital technology will also be introduced including menu screens, contactless payment terminals and the Yoyo app which allows for pre-ordering and pre-payment.

The deal comes after a £300,000 up-front investment into the college's catering environment, improving equipment, furniture and facilities in shops and food courts. The revamp includes a new, consistent visual brand identity across Edinburgh's four campuses.

The firm has also pledged to support the college's hospitality curriculum with learning opportunities, access to industry events and culinary demonstrations. The move marks Gather & Gathers first step into the world of further & higher education.

Allister Richards, managing director at Gather & Gather, said: "We are very pleased Edinburgh College has chosen Gather & Gather to transform its catering offer and are looking forward to bringing our contemporary approach to food, service and technology to refresh the experience for students and staff across all four campuses.

"We're also delighted to be supporting the hospitality curriculum to provide learning and development opportunities."