---
title: "The Palmer Catholic Academy ~ Catering Tender"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05f03f"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05f03f"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f03f.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f03f.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "THE PALMER CATHOLIC ACADEMY"
published: "2026-06-08"
---

# The Palmer Catholic Academy ~ Catering Tender

Buyer: THE PALMER CATHOLIC ACADEMY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05f03f

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## Summary

The Palmer Catholic Academy, located in Seven Kings, Ilford, has recently completed its procurement process for a catering services contract, focusing on enhancing the health and wellbeing of its 1,100 pupils and 140 staff. The academy, a public authority under sub-central government, issued this tender inviting suppliers under an open and competitive flexible procedure for a contract worth £1,500,000. The procurement process concluded with an award on 8th June 2026. The contract, starting on 1st August 2026, spans an initial three-year period with potential for extensions up to 2031. Accent Catering Services Ltd, a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME), was awarded the contract, which covers various service points at the school located within the UKH3 region, United Kingdom, under the industry category of school catering services. The contract requires innovative and nutritionally balanced menu offerings that cater to emerging food trends.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specializing in catering services, particularly those in the SME sector, which have the ability to deliver fresh and inventive menus while ensuring efficient service. Companies capable of integrating with school communities and supporting curricular activities could find growth potential in this partnership. With an emphasis on innovative food solutions similar to high-street offerings, businesses with experience in dynamic food service offerings and those looking to demonstrate their operational agility and culinary creativity can leverage this opportunity for business expansion. The contract allows for a robust mobilisation period, giving successful bidders time to establish an exceptional service delivery framework, potentially leading to further extensions and long-term business relationships.

## Notice

The Palmer Catholic Academy ( TPCA) is an 11-18 Catholic secondary school located in Seven Kings, Ilford in the Diocese of Brentwood. 'The Palmer Catholic Academy is a voluntary aided co-educational Academy for students aged 11 to 18. Founded in 1961 by Canon Patrick Palmer in 1961 as Canon Palmer Catholic School with the aim of serving the Catholic community in Ilford, the academy has grown in numbers and stature. In 1961 the school educated 300 students as opposed to 1,100 today. The academy has undergone many changes over the years, but at the heart, all we do has remained the same. We are a modern academy with traditional values.' The school is presenting an exciting opportunity to partner with a specialist Supplier who is able to deliver their vision of promoting the health and wellbeing of their circa 1100pupils and 140 staff through the catering provision. Current catering sales revenue is in excess of PS300k per annum, over three services - breakfast, morning break and lunchtime. Currently there are 5 service points, all replicating the same service offer where possible - with some segregation of year groups. At lunchtime main meals vary daily but will include hot entrees with appropriate accompaniments, vegetarian alternatives, jackets & fillings and a selection of hot and cold sandwiches. Each entree is bundled with Drink and dessert to make up the meal deal. A Halal alternative is always available. The Client would like to see innovative delivery of emerging food trends that are seen on the high-street and in supermarkets that pupils frequent and therefore need to be reflected in the school dining environment. There is a need to maximise sales and uptake to contribute against overheads - this can be achieved by offering a dynamic and bespoke food offering at the two main food services The key areas of focus for the successful service provider will include; Fresh and innovative menus that are nutritionally balanced and appealing with regular healthy alternatives; The best use of fresh produce and prime cooking; Efficient and consistent speed of service with great student and staff interaction; Catering staff integration with the School community and support with Curriculum activities. Identifying and potential funding of appropriate additions to the existing offer through focused investment Enhancement of the current skill level of the team and more investment in on-site leadership The Client expects the successful Supplier to evidence, through their bid, how they will deliver consistently in these focus areas through the contract term. The existing team have resilience and consistency in day to day production, indeed with the prime cooking equipment currently available, they are being very productive, but in order to produce the innovative and dynamic food offer required they will need to be supported by an engaged operational team that can demonstrate and upskill menu content to provide services that meet expectation. Aside from the food, the front of house environment in which the pupils engage with the catering offer is adequate but lacks some definition and merchandising, so the bidders will need to consider what the requirements are to drive the whole pupil experience in the dining hall and other service areas. With a contract start date of Summer 2026, the Supplier will need to consider how they will manage the mobilisation and launch the service in what should be a good length of mobilisation/ remobilisation period. The Client is seeking a catering service partner that has the ability and appetite to work flexibly and with complete transparency to deliver an exceptional standard of service and take on the development of a loyal and dedicated team. The contract will be for an initial three year-term, with likely potential for further extensions of 1+1 years. The catering tender presents an exciting time for the School and the Client group is looking forward to developing a successful partnership with a service provider demonstrating the right cultural fit as well as hunger and appetite for continuous improvement. Please see PSQ Document for more information.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: 1+1 Please see PSQ Document for more information.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053725-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 8 Jun 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 20 Mar 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 20 May 2026 |
| Contract period | 31 Jul 2026 - 31 Jul 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,500,000 |
| Lots value | £1,500,000 |
| Awards value | £1,500,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | THE PALMER CATHOLIC ACADEMY |
| Locality | ESSEX |
| Post town | Ilford |
| Postcode | IG3 8EU |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI5 Outer London - East and North East |
| ITL 3 | TLI53 Redbridge and Waltham Forest |
| Local authority | Redbridge |
| Electoral ward | Newbury |
| Westminster constituency | Ilford South |
| Delivery location | TLH3 Essex |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ACCENT CATERING SERVICES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

### Codes

- 55524000 - School catering services

## Release History

- 8 Jun 2026 at 10:55 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053725-2026
- 5 Dec 2025 at 19:05 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080384-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053725-2026
  8th June 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080384-2025
  5th December 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://litmustms.co.uk/respond/N297664866
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05f03f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f03f.json.