News
HRH visits Nottinghamshire
20th February 2009
The Prince of Wales visited Nottinghamshire for the day and launched a food accreditation scheme, visited British pharmaceutical and beauty company Boots, met young people helped by The Prince's Trust, and joined apprentices learning new skills at a construction college.
First, The Prince launched an accreditation scheme for caterers who buy local, organic and GM-free produce.
In a speech, The Prince, who is Patron of the Soil Association, said he hoped food "hubs" could be developed to help hospitals and schools source from local farmers.
The Food for Life Catering Mark is an accreditation scheme that provides a step-by-step route to sustainable catering. Open to caterers in both the public and private sectors, the Mark has three tiers: bronze, silver and gold, with the gold standard requiring the caterer’s menu to be 75 per cent freshly prepared, 50 per cent local and 30 per cent organic.
The scheme grew out of the Soil Association’s work with school dinners, and the Catering Mark was originally intended for third party suppliers of food to schools. However, the scheme has now been expanded to include caterers from nurseries, hospitals and sports stadia.
Speaking at the national launch of the scheme The Prince said he hoped consumers would choose food produced locally when eating out.
He said: "Why can't we look forward to the day when caterers go to a food hub supplied by local farmers. It would reduce transport costs and food miles. It would create a genuinely virtuous circle.
"I am hopeful that the public will begin to seek the reassurance of the Food for Life endorsement whenever they or their children eat outside the home."
Among today's award recipients were ceremony hosts Nottingham City Hospital and Celtic Football Club.
"I look forward to the day when the achievements we are celebrating today are the norm and not the exception," The Prince said.
The Prince said the battle to improve the quality of food in institutions was "crucial".
He said: "I have been somewhat concerned about the state of our food production methods for a good many years.
"It's enormously encouraging that things are, I think, beginning to change for the better."
The Prince continued: "Across the country, in the school kitchens, where they still exist, there are real strides forward being made.
"Today we can celebrate those who have shown determination to improve the quality of food in this country's schools, nurseries and sports clubs."
Nottingham University Hospital scooped a Food for Life award after revamping its menu to include an array of dishes, from pasta carbonara and roast lunches to fish and chips and goat curry.
Catering manager John Hughes said: "All our dishes exceed the required standard set by the national Better Hospital Food Programme and are made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients wherever possible."
After the awards presentation ceremony, co-operative development agency manager Claire Pritchard said: "At the moment we have farmers producing large amounts of one product so in some ways there is only one market for them.
"If we have a hub we can have farmers producing all kinds of produce coming to one place and at that hub produce can be packaged and priced, so adding value for the farmer.
"I would 100 per cent support what The Prince said. We now need to see the practical implementation."
Later The Prince visited an energy centre, technology centre and factory at the Boots site in Beeston.
Alliance Boots is a leading member of Business in the Community, one of The Prince of Wales’s charities, which inspires, engages, supports and challenges companies to continually improve the impact they have on society and the environment.
Responsible Business is inherently embedded in the ethos of The Boots brand. Best practice is embedded into the day to day working practices of the organisation.
The Energy Centre is designed to generate electricity and steam for Boots Offices, factories and warehouses on the Beeston site.
The Technical Centre is a purpose built state-of-the-art facility to provide an environment for the team to develop, formulate and produce health and beauty products.
Afterwards, The Prince visited a Prince's Trust project to boost job prospects for young people at the William Olds Centre Bestwood Estate in Nottingham.
The Prince’s Trust Team programme supports 16-25 year olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law.
The programme is based on individual and Team challenges in the community and is designed to help improve job prospects for young people through team building activities, a week-long residential trip, a community project and a two week work experience placement.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue deliver The Prince's Trust Team programme in Nottinghamshire. They are passionate about working with young people and providing them with exciting opportunities to build a stronger, safer community.
The partnership with the Prince’s Trust enhances the work within community fire safety by; reducing risks of fire and road traffic collisions, as well as building the confidence and self esteem of young people, allowing them to achieve qualifications and reach their full potential.
Afterwards The Prince visited a skills college for young people in Kirkby-in-Ashfield.
West Nottinghamshire College's £7.2 million construction and logistical skills academy, provides vocational training to more than 600 students on a range of subject areas, including bricklaying, plumbing, gas fitting, and railway engineering.
West Nottinghamshire College’s Construction and Logistics Skills Academy opened in June 2008 and offers top-class facilities to around 650 students across a range of subjects including building services, bricklaying, joinery, painting and decorating, surveying and construction management.