Award

The Circle Trust - Catering Tender

THE CIRCLE TRUST

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

10 Sep 2025 at 15:05

Tender

15 Nov 2024 at 16:05

Summary of the contracting process

The Circle Trust, an educational charity headquartered in Wokingham, is seeking to engage a catering services provider for its network of schools, which includes 8 primary and 2 secondary schools. This procurement process falls under the services category, specifically school catering services, with an assigned CPV code of 55524000. The procurement is currently at the contract award stage, having been announced in September 2025, with a contract signing date recorded as the 12th of May, 2025. The total value of the contract awarded is £8,140,445 GBP. The overall procurement method adopted for this process was a restricted procedure, and the contract is set to run from the 1st of September, 2025, to the 31st of August, 2028, with an option to extend to 31st August, 2030.

This tender presents a lucrative opportunity for businesses within the catering industry to deliver high-quality services across multiple educational institutions. With a substantial contract value, this opportunity best suits established vendors capable of fulfilling large-scale catering needs, specifically those with a turnover exceeding £1 million. SMEs can also participate, with The Circle Trust highlighting the opportunity as suitable for such operators. The focus on continuity, quality, and the use of locally sourced ingredients suggest that businesses with innovative service solutions and strong management capabilities would be well-positioned to compete effectively. Additionally, the Trust values a partnership approach that aligns with its educational ethos, favouring suppliers able to propose creative enhancements to existing services. Businesses with strengths in delivering tailored, high-quality catering solutions will find this opportunity strategic for growth and expansion.

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Notice Title

The Circle Trust - Catering Tender

Notice Description

The contract requires excellent catering services to be delivered to all schools within The Circle Trust (8 primary and 2 secondary schools at present) - based in Wokingham

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Circle Trust is an educational charity, that exists to do one thing, to promote education for the public benefit. We are a community of schools that have shared values and an essential common ethos and vision for education and learning. We seek a catering contractor who will work in partnership with us and who will mirror our highest standards. More information with regards to Circle Trust can be obtained here: https://thecircletrust.co.uk/ Our Schools: 1.Badgemore Primary School. 2.Emmbrook Infant School. 3.Emmbrook Junior School. 4.Nine Mile Ride Primary School. 5.Shinfield Infant and Nursery School. 6.St Crispin's Secondary School. 7.The Emmbrook School (Secondary). 8.Wescott Infant School. 9.Westende Junior School. 10.The Hawthorns Primary School All 10 schools listed above (two secondary and 8 primary schools) - are participating in this tender. Please note this is a growing Trust where one additional schools may join during this tender process. Please note that any other schools not listed above that may join the Trust during the tenure of this new catering contract may, at the Trust's discretion, be added to this contract. Tender information: The successful tenderer will be required to provide excellent catering services to the Schools. The contract term being tendered is for three years 1st September 2025 - 31st August 2028. There is an option for a further extension period for up to two additional years to 31st August 2030. (Please note that Emmbrook Infant School, Emmbrook Junior School and The Hawthorns Primary School will commence their new contract one month earlier on 1st August 2025) The contract offers an excellent opportunity to review and propose enhancements to the current catering services at all of the Schools within the Trust. This includes but is not limited to; breakfast, morning break, lunchtime and after school services, over the academic year of 190 days. The Trust is keen to secure one provider to deliver catering services to all schools. The Trust requires continuity of excellence in both service delivery and management across all schools, with the bespoke requirements of each unique school taken into account and accommodated in the offer. The Trust is keen to secure a high quality catering service including fresh locally sourced ingredients prepared on site, with a menu design that is flexible to suit the requirements of each of the school's specific students. The Trust is proud of it's 'family ethos' and expects both a tightly managed service and a management style delivered by the successful contractor that supports, encourages and develops the catering staff. The Trust is not obliged to accept the lowest price submitted for this tender, rather the school is keen to secure 'best value' from this contract and to deliver 'best value' to it's students. Innovative and creative ideas as to how the services can be developed and value added, will be welcomed. The Trust seeks a contractor that is keen to work in partnership and who will deliver to it's highest abilities, at all times The value of this contract is PS6,141,755. The contract shall be a guaranteed performance contract with any hospitality requirements billed separately Additional requirements and information: *The Trust has a minimum requirement for a contractor's employers' liability and public liability insurance of PS5 million *The minimum annual turnover that your company must have achieved to be considered for this opportunity is PS1 million *There are not any incumbent catering staff currently within the Local Government Pension Scheme at the schools *The catering services are currently provided by: The School Lunch Company for Badgemore Primary School, Dolce for Emmbrook Infant School, Emmbrook Junior School and The Hawthorns Primary School, Aspens for all other schools Additional information: To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/355J96W4XR

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04b709
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055518-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Restricted procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services


CPV Codes

55524000 - School catering services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,141,755 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£6,141,755 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£8,140,445 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
20 Dec 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
11 May 20259 months ago
Contract Period
31 Aug 2025 - 31 Aug 2030 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE CIRCLE TRUST
Contact Name
Rachel OGrady
Contact Email
tenders@rivapartnership.co.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1252977017

Buyer Location

Locality
WOKINGHAM
Postcode
RG40 1SS
Post Town
Reading
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
TLJ11 Berkshire

Local Authority
Wokingham
Electoral Ward
Wescott
Westminster Constituency
Wokingham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CULINERA

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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