Source: https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a13bdc-c444-7066-a319-1d6d25cb1a49/potential-outsourcing-of-school-canteen-service pending GB open procedure # Potential outsourcing of School Canteen Service [Strathearn School Belfast](https://tendernation.io/buyers/strathearn-school-belfast) Estimated value Not stated Published 28 Apr 2026 Deadline Rolling deadline ## Who can bid - Open procedure Anyone can submit a full tender; there is no shortlisting stage. ## About this tender ### Background to the School Strathearn School is an all girls' grammar located at 188 Belmont Road, Belfast BT4 2AU. The school was this year ranked the top grammar in Northern Ireland in the Sunday Times Parent Power Report. As a Voluntary Grammar School, the school is managed by its Board of Governors, which acts as the employing authority for staff. The school has a greater level of autonomy and self-governance over its budget and maintenance than schools in the Education Authority Controlled sector. ### Current Canteen Provision Enrolment at the school is 823, approximately 50% of whom choose a canteen lunch. Of these, the number of pupils in receipt of free school meals is 58. All pupils and c.120 members of staff have access to canteen facilities at the following times: - Breakfast: 8.15 - 8.45am - Break: 10.50 - 11.05am - Lunch: 12.20 - 1.45pm The school is willing to consider any extension of these times that a supplier may seek, for example for the provision of hot drinks. There is a separate servery in the Sixth Form Centre, which is located adjacent to the canteen, and there may be demand from these pupils (as yet untested) during study periods. In addition, enrolment in the Preparatory Department is currently 120. Prep pupils are served lunch in the canteen at the earlier time of 11.45am and approximately 50% choose a canteen lunch. The canteen operates a cashless biometric system whereby pupils pay using their fingerprint. Education Authority (EA) funding for Free School Meal pupils is received at £3.34 per meal. For Prep pupils, a set lunch cost (currently £3.05 per meal) is billed to parents on a termly basis. In its current configuration the canteen provides seating for c.375 pupils. The Sixth Form Centre accommodates pupils in L6/U6 (c.200). Sixth form pupils are also allowed to leave the school grounds at lunchtime. Pupils are encouraged to eat their lunch in the canteen, including those with a packed lunch. The school has modern, well-maintained equipment and facilities and will work with the operator to improve aesthetics or facilitate any changes to the existing configuration of the canteen. In addition, catering is provided for internal events such as meetings, Prizegiving, Open Morning etc. where requested. Summary turnover data can be obtained by contacting the Bursar at . ### Requirement The school canteen service is currently run in-house, and the Board of Governors wishes to explore the opportunity to outsource a fully managed catering service to a commercial operator, ideally from the start of the 2026/27 academic year. The reasons for this move are as follows: - The forecast financial position for canteen operations is unsustainable in the current operating environment of unstable and reduced operating income (in real terms) from the Department of Education (DE). The school is seeking to increase operational efficiencies and innovation in order to improve value for money and service delivery to its pupils. - A survey of pupils undertaken in February 2026 was completed by 351 pupils and indicates scope for improvement in terms of variety of food on offer and waiting times. The survey responses are available by contacting the Bursar at . - The school finds it difficult to recruit canteen staff. There is a current vacant position for a Cook (currently being covered on a temporary basis through an agency) and nine staff employed (one Canteen Supervisor and eight Canteen Assistants). Whilst current staff will be required to transfer to the operator under the TUPE regulations, there is an opportunity for the operator to recruit for the vacant position. Information to support the TUPE process will be provided in the tender documentation. - The school would benefit from an operator's input in relation to staff training, management of allergens, meeting nutritional standards and accounting for best practice in relation to service provision. - There is an opportunity for the operator to supply vending services on site, should this prove attractive. There is also scope to supply ingredients to the Home Economics department, if this presents as a viable proposition. Read full description ## CPV classification Canteen and catering services Source Find a Tender (UK) · Notice ocds-h6vhtk-068cc2-2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00 [View official notice](https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/ocds-h6vhtk-068cc2-2026-04-28T13:37:42+01:00) Never miss a tender like this again Get AI summaries, deadline alerts and a bid pipeline for tenders matched to your business. Free to start. [Track tenders free](https://tendernation.io/register) [Buyer profile Strathearn School Belfast: past awards and live tenders](https://tendernation.io/buyers/strathearn-school-belfast) [Sector More Hospitality, catering & hotel services tenders](https://tendernation.io/sectors/hospitality-catering) ## More tenders like this [Restaurant and food-serving services – servicio de alimentacion de pacientes Y explotacion de cafeterias Y maquinas expendedoras EN EL hospital carlos III · Servicio Madrileño de Salud - Hospital Universitario La Paz · 28 days left · 16 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a15183-0a30-73a4-a0dd-852a0a5901d8/spain-restaurant-and-food-serving-services-servicio-de-alimentacion-de-pacie) [Canteen and other restricted-clientele cafeteria services – Betreiben der Gastronomie am Obergericht · Obergericht des Kantons Zürich · 44 days left · 2 Dec 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a15183-07b9-7163-ad50-671bf619a70d/switzerland-canteen-and-other-restricted-clientele-cafeteria-services-betrei) [Canteen and catering services – Accord-cadre de fourniture et de livraison de repas collectifs et individuels pour les besoins de la Commune d'Etaples-sur-mer · Commune d'Etaples-sur-mer · 16 days left · 4 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a15183-74f2-71cd-80c9-a7bf354a173f/france-canteen-and-catering-services-accord-cadre-de-fourniture-et-de-livrai) [School-meal services – Conception, Conditionnement et la livraison de repas en liaison froide pour le service de restauration scolaire et la crèche municipale de la ville de Ghisonaccia · Mairie de Ghisonaccia · 32 days left · 20 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a15183-062d-737e-8dc7-98577d79df0d/france-school-meal-services-conception-conditionnement-et-la-livraison-de-r) [Retail trade services – DPS for the supply and delivery of Category Partner Supply Services to Trinity College Dublin · Trinity College Dublin the University of Dublin\_336 · 1470 days left · 28 Oct 2030](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a15183-1585-726a-ada4-fe9e912ec9a1/ireland-retail-trade-services-dps-for-the-supply-and-delivery-of-category-pa) [Meal-preparation services – Accord-cadre à bons de commande pour confection et livraison de repas en liaison froide destinés au restaurant scolaire dans une démarche de développement durable · Sivu Excenevex - Yvoire · 28 days left · 16 Nov 2026](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a15183-0bd1-73b5-811e-a05e2619ebcf/france-meal-preparation-services-accord-cadre-a-bons-de-commande-pour-confec)