Foodservice Cateys 2021: Extra Mile Award: Andy Jones, AJ Associates

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This year’s winner of the Extra Mile Award has had more reason than ever to ensure the focus remains on his passion: the public sector.

Andy Jones is a public sector specialist consultant who set up AJ Associates in 2016. His business allows him to work alongside clients in the health and social care sectors to assist with contracts and advise on improving standards.

Jones previously worked in the public sector in various hospital catering roles for almost 21 years, serving patients and learning what goes towards their long-term care and recovery.

Crucially his no-nonsense approach to keeping the public sector in the headlines has seen him challenge government and the status quo, never accepting inadequate standards or criticism of the staff.

Jones’ continued work with organisations as a facilities manager and catering consultant has meant his skills were essential to many hospitals and managers in organising vital logistics during the pandemic. His role also saw him overseeing contracts and tender processes as well as customer-focused engagement workshops.

In his spare time, he stands up as an industry spokesperson and offers advice on hospital food standards to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Jones is a public sector specialist speaker at many events, and this year worked alongside James Martin on his hospital food programme, for which he sought and achieved royal approval from Prince Charles. His focus on sustainability and ensuring that caterers lead the journey to net zero is well documented and is another of his passions.

He continues to be involved in many organisations, including the Hospital Catering Association (as past chair), the PSC100 Group (chair), an ambassador for Love British Food and the NHS Fabulous Academy, and since March 2012 has been the co-lead of Nutrition and Hydration Week committee. The purpose of Nutrition and Hydration week is to bring people together to highlight and educate people on the value of food and drink in maintaining health and wellbeing in the health and social care sectors. The event is open to anyone and has grown to reach participants across the world.

After starting his career in hospitality as a catering manager in 1981, Jones says he has never lost “the fire in his belly” for the incredible work he and his colleagues do in the public sector.

Having now spent more than 40 years in the industry, as well as becoming the winner of the Public Sector Catey winner in 2012, Jones’ ethos of “treating every patient as if he or she is a member of your own family” and “putting the patient first” has seen him go the extra mile. He is a deserving winner of this award.

Past winners

• 2019 Vacherin
• 2018 Simon Boyle, Beyond Food Foundation and Brigade
• 2017 Alison Gilbert, CH&Co Group
• 2016 Neil Porter, BAM Facilities Management
• 2015 Neel Radia, National Association of Care Catering
• 2014 Gerard Jacob, Vacherin
• 2013 Vera Mirescu, Host Management