TUCO Chair named ‘Top 20 Influencer’ for Fifth Year

22nd December 2015

The Chair of The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO), Julie Barker, has been named in the annual Top 20 Public Sector Influencers for the fifth year in a row, just a few short months are picking up the Public Sector Catey Award.

The list, which is put together by the industry title, Cost Sector Catering, brings together the most influential figures in public sector catering, and is selected by a group of independent judges which are embedded within the Industry

Those on the list are recognised as the movers, shakers, influencers and campaigners who’ve had an impact on the big issues and challenges, which have shaped the marketplace throughout 2015.  These include, universal infant free school meals, the standard of food in hospitals, and the threat to meals-on-wheels services from local authority cuts.

Julie Barker, who is also the Director of Hospitality and Accommodation at the University of Brighton, and Geoff Booth, Chair of the Professional Association of Catering Education (PACE), are the only two industry figures who have been shortlisted in the Top 20 – which is now in its seventh year - for the fifth consecutive time. 

Commenting on making the 2015 list, Julie Baker said:  “I am delighted to be included on the Top 20 list for the fifth time, it’s always an honour to be recognised by your Industry peers. TUCO has been working on a number of innovative projects in 2015, from launching a Training Academy to conducting consumer and Industry research.

“TUCO is committed to continually developing new initiatives which provide public sector in-house caterers with the tools needed to grow their offering, meet changing consumer demands, and succeed within the competitive marketplace.”