Ashe heads NEC catering buyout move

Patrick Ashe, the catering director at Birmingham's NEC, is leading a management buyout to take over the company's catering operation.

He has been backed by other NEC Group employees in the bid, which has already been put to the main board and is now awaiting a decision.

Ashe said if the bid were successful it would help to free the division from bureaucratic restraints affecting its operation.

"The NEC Group does have difficulties with levels of red tape and bureaucracy, particularly in relation to raising capital because it comes under Birmingham City Council," he explained.

"But this is not down to council inefficiencies, it is because of the legislation."

The catering division, which covers the five venues operated by the NEC Group, including the NEC, NEC Arena and National Indoor Arena, has more than 200 permanent staff, which with temporary workers can rise to 3,000.

Ashe said all staff had been consulted over the bid and talks would be held with the Transport and General Workers' Union. But there were no plans to restructure the department and there would be no job losses

A spokesman for the NEC Group confirmed that an approach had been made and this was being considered by the board.

by Sara Macefield