I have an absolute splitting headache today and I am seriously considering a little nap at lunchtime. No, I have not been out painting the town red – Sodexo Prestige were nominated for several awards at the annual Cost Sector Catering Awards last night and it was duly celebrated!
The prestigious annual award ceremony reflects the truly aspirational nature of this accolade programme. To win one of the coveted award categories is the pinnacle of any executive's career and recognizes their outstanding contribution to this wonderful industry of ours. It is the highest acknowledgement of merit that can be bestowed from within the foodservice industry.
Hosted at the Hilton Metropole, we wore black-tie and arrived for a drinks reception and a bit of schmoozing. Anna fenten, our Marketing Director, waltzed me round the room introducing me to various Sodexo big-wigs and ‘industry people’, and we spied on the other nominees trying to spot who was who.
The guest list was about 1,000 strong, and out of the15 awards, Prestige were nominated for a fair few – very exciting times. The nominees were shown on screen throughout the night and we cheered loudly every time Anna Fenten and Sue Creed (Director of Events for Prestige Ticketing) flashed up on screen. As a consummate professional, I restrained myself from booing when a certain competitors name came up …. You know who you are.
Sodexo were nominated for:
Event Caterer Award: Sue Creed, Events Director, Sodexo
Marketing Award: Sodexo UK for the Open Golf Championships
Social Care Award: Sodexo Ltd
Stadia Award: Sodexo UK for Aberdeen Football Club
I made a very nice new friend from our venue
Aberdeen Football Club – Account Manager, Isla Stewart. Andrew Nicholson, our Head of Online, had said previously that we were peas in a pod and a very apt statement that was. Dressed in a stunning black sequinned cocktail dress she was the complete opposite to me in my ethereal pink number, but none the less we clicked. And speaking of outfits to die-for, I think she would want you all to know that she was photographed by Grazia that very same weekend out and about in Clapham!
Sadly we did not traverse the carpet and collect a prize from the comic John Colshaw - however, although not officially recognised in an award format I feel that everyone in the room knew that we were winners none the less!
