@CatherineFlick the competion here is not about quality though. The schools will have to take the lowest bidder. If the only thing you let companies compete on is price then the quality will always be low. Its not the schools fault either as they don't have any money to pay for better quality. It was these children who caused the 2008 financial crisis so its them that must pay. It does not excuse the people involved but its not like there is any pressure to do anything else.
Sorry to interject, but schools do *not* have to select solely on cost.
Schools have several routes to purchasing things like catering - for example using frameworks:
https://buyingforschools.blog.gov.uk/2023/05/25/a-beginners-guide-to-using-frameworks-for-school-buying/
That allows them to select on exactly what they value - which might be cost, or quality, or variety, or SLA etc
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-a-dfe-approved-framework-for-your-school
Undoubtedly some schools do go for the cheapest - but they can fire their caterer if they don't perform to standard.
Haha! A mini-one-stop-shop for all your bullying. Two victims for the price of one!
@CatherineFlick @Edent @choffee I made the same mistake & wouldn’t have realised without your post.
@Edent @CatherineFlick @choffee interesting, thanks!
As chair of our primary schools PTA, it is always frustrating when the school cannot use local people to provide goods and services and their hands are tied to the county council approved suppliers list.
Good to know there are means for local businesses to get 'in the door' provided the managers of the frameworks are open to this. I'd guess framework agreements work at council level, not per school!
@Slash909uk I don't know where you live, but local suppliers can usually register on council frameworks.
See, for example, https://westberks.gov.uk/procurement
Most frameworks that I've seen are somewhat size agnostic. Although a sole trader is unlikely to win a contract to build a new school by themselves 🙂
@Edent I'm in Woolton Hill, Hampshire (but almost West Berkshire.) Looks similar for Hampshire frameworks too 👍
https://www.hants.gov.uk/business/contracting-direct
Not sure if they cover any of our PTA work building outdoor learning facilities.. I'll take a look.
Thank you!