Food for Life Served Here (FFLSH) Task and Finish Group (T&FG) - Volunteer
Do you have experience in the foodservice industry, or sustainable food policy?
Can you understand and articulate different stakeholder perspectives, including the consumer’s?
Do you enjoy meeting and working with other industry experts?
Would you like to support the development of best practice standards for foodservice?
If you can answer yes to any of these, then you could help shape the future of the Soil Association’s Food for Life Served Here (FFLSH) scheme which recognises best practice amongst caterers and the food service industry. Over 2 million accredited meals are now served each weekday. The bronze, silver and gold standards encourage and reward the use of fresh, healthy, local and organic food.
About the opportunity:
The Soil Association is the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for healthy, humane and sustainable food, farming and land use. We believe in providing good food for all and making organic food more accessible.
Our standards are pioneering and lead the way in improving the food served by caterers. They are supported by robust governance from the Soil Association Standards Board – you can find out more about how we set standards on our website where you can also see our strategy
As Food for Life Served Here continues to grow quickly and expand into new sectors, we are keen to ensure the Task and Finish Group reflects the diversity of organisations involved. The Food for Life Served Here Task and Finish Group will meet quarterly, usually in Bristol, with an online option. This is a voluntary position with reasonable travel and subsistence expenses reimbursed. Induction training is provided.
We are now recruiting for new members of the FFLSH Task and Finish Group following an internal standards refresh of the scheme. We are looking for experts in nutrition, food procurement, food processors, growers, public health, sustainability, special dietary needs, and supply chains, or with experience in catering for schools, care homes, early years settings, hospitals, universities or workplaces. We also need a new lay member, who will represent the public and consumer interest in the scheme.
Role summary:
Successful candidates will need to demonstrate at least one of the following attributes:
An understanding of assurance schemes, sustainable food practices and/or technological innovations;
Considerable experience as a cook/chef, nutritionist, public sector or commercial caterer;
Recognition as a thought leader or policy expert on healthy and sustainable diets, public sector food procurement and supply chain management or any of the areas listed above;
Lay member - an ability to articulate the public and consumer perspective; but should be independent of any commercial interest in the hospitality or catering sectors.
In addition, all candidates will need to have:
An appreciation of the benefits of using organic, local, fresh and healthy ingredients in the food service industry;
Experience of working in committees or groups to achieve consensus.
A commitment to the Food for Life Served Here scheme and an understanding of the Soil Association’s role in improving food served outside of the home is essential. Membership of other best practice food networks, such as the HCA, APSE or LACA is desirable for those working in the industry.
To apply:
Terms of reference for the Food for Life Served Here Task and Finish Group and further information about the role are available from Katie Mason kmason@soilassociation.org or +44 117 914 2415.
Applicants should submit a CV and email, describing why you are interested in the role and which of the above attributes you would bring to the committee, to the email address above by 5pm on 20 January 2023. Telephone interviews are likely to take place the week commencing 23 January 2023.
