Tenterden Schools Trust
Tenterden Schools Trust (TST) is a Multi Academy Trust of six schools based in and around the beautiful Tenterden area of Kent. The Trust comprises one secondary school with sixth form provision as well as five primary schools.
Background
The Trust identified the need to review and retender its catering services to ensure high-quality provision for all pupils while achieving value for money. With multiple schools involved and an existing contract approaching renewal, coupled with the fact that the contract value breached the Light Touch threshold of £663,540, the Trust required a procurement process that ensured compliance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR2015) and attracted strong market interest.
Challenges:
Minerva Procurement Consultancy Services Limited supported the Trust in highlighting several key challenges:
- Coordinating requirements across schools of different sizes and needs.
- Balancing quality food provision with financial sustainability.
- Developing clear performance measures and service expectations.
- Navigating a complex procurement process to achieve compliance and transparency.
TST engaged Minerva to deliver a robust and fully compliant PCR2015 tender. Minerva produced the tender documents, pricing templates and a draft legal agreement for the tender process, ensuring the Trust could attract strong bids from catering providers while maintaining focus on quality. The approach streamlined communication, provided transparency, and ensured all decision-makers were confident at every stage.
Key Steps in the Procurement Process:
Minerva worked with the Trust to ensure each school’s catering requirements were defined including the desired service improvements.
- Specification Development: A detailed specification was created, capturing Trust-wide standards alongside individual school preferences.
- Supplier Engagement: Early engagement activities encouraged high-quality bidders and ensured understanding of the Trust’s expectations.
- Tender Documentation: Clear and compliant documentation was produced to support a fair, competitive process.
- Evaluation: Bids were rigorously assessed against criteria that balanced quality, service innovation, and pricing.
Results
The project achieved excellent outcomes for the Trust:
- Appointment of a high-quality catering provider capable of delivering consistent, nutritious meals across all schools.
- Improved value for money, demonstrating the benefits of a Trust-wide procurement strategy.
- Greater transparency and a fully auditable process, satisfying both governance and regulatory requirements.
- Enhanced service standards and reporting to support continuous improvement.
The catering procurement for Tenterden Schools Trust demonstrates how a well-structured and fully compliant PCR2015 tender can deliver outstanding results. By partnering with Minerva, the Trust not only achieved cost efficiencies but also secured a catering partner capable of meeting the diverse needs of its schools. This project highlights Minerva’s expertise in delivering value-driven, transparent procurement processes for multi-academy trusts.
Customer Feedback
Chief Financial and Operations Officer, Traysi Higgin, said: “Always a brilliant service from start to finish and even after that!”
