SCHOOLCHILDREN in Craven and across North Yorkshire are being given the opportunity to sample some of the healthiest and nutritious meals in the country after the county’s service has been recognised nationally.

North Yorkshire Council’s catering team has won a national award for delivering the best choice of meals to schools in the region.

They beat fierce competition from other local authorities’ catering services to be crowned the best service team title at the Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE) annual charity awards dinner held this month (September).

The APSE awards recognise the very best in public services and this year’s awards received hundreds of nominations from across the UK.

Judges were impressed by North Yorkshire Council’s clear strategy and business plans, leadership, vision, the ability to consistently meet or even exceed customer expectations and future ambitions.

The authority’s executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said: “Huge congratulations to every member of our catering team. This national triumph reflects how our valued frontline North Yorkshire Council staff go above and beyond to deliver customer service excellence in what can be a very challenging operational environment.”

The council’s corporate director of resources, Gary Fielding, also praised the work of the team, which has won a series of awards during the past year.

Mr Fielding added: “This award is well-deserved. I would like to pay tribute to the hard work and dedication of officers who have demonstrated a true understanding of the needs of schoolchildren by providing meals that are not only are delicious and nutritional, but visually appealing too. Congratulations to the team.”

The council’s catering team has achieved turnaround within the last 12 months.

Facing spiralling costs and a trading deficit, the service has delivered a strategy involving frontline kitchen staff, schools, parents, carers, and children delivering increased meal uptake and customer satisfaction levels.

They serve more than 220 schools not just within the North Yorkshire Council area, but across the wider Yorkshire and Humber region and the Teesside area too.

The chief executive of APSE, Mo Baines, said: “Across local government, there are a multitude of people working to deliver the very best for their local communities. At a time when national politics is dominating the headlines, it is more vital than ever that we acknowledge the dedication of our frontline service teams and the positive impact they have on their communities.”