The Litmus Partnership

With VAT on independent school fees set to take effect from January 2025 and National Insurance increasing in April, schools face significant financial challenges. But there’s still time to act. By driving efficiencies in your catering operations, you can help reduce costs and potentially avoid passing the increases onto parents. We’ve put together a free advice guide for school leaders, outlining actionable steps to optimise operations and save costs. 📖 Read the guide here https://lnkd.in/eH-73Nus

This week our Education Consultancy Director Joe Parfitt  and Consultant Matt Garner  are honoured to be guest speakers at the joint ISBA and BSA webinar, Driving Operating & Cost Efficiencies Across Catering & Facilities Services. The session will explore practical strategies for improving efficiency while maintaining high standards across key service areas. Joe and Matt will share actionable insights and examples to help schools optimise their operations in today’s challenging climate. If you aren’t able to attend but have questions about the topics discussed, Joe and Matt are happy to help. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your school. https://lnkd.in/ddhvk5Z Independent Schools' Bursars Association  Boarding Schools' Association (BSA)

Candice Finn  and Joe Parfitt led an important discussion on Wednesday evening with other UK education industry leaders, hosted by EP in Hospitality. Covering several pressing topics facing the education sector: 🔹VAT on independent school fees, and the need for schools and contractors to mitigate these through the food and FM services they provide 🔹Free School Meals being underfunded by 20% currently - as per recent research conducted by SFM, and approaches to increasing spend on the plate 🔹Employers NI increases being further cost burden and pressure across the sector 🔹Tackling food waste as a key ESG objective and to reduce costs 🔹The latest tech and AI to unlock operational efficiencies and improve the customer experience 🔹The need to attract and retain new talent to the food service sector to drive innovation and change   The discussion gave everyone an opportunity to discuss the latest best practice and technology that the education sector can benefit from to withstand these challenges – turning them into opportunities to create positive change and save educational establishments significant operational costs and time – something we all need more of! Click to read more here: https://lnkd.in/dwWiPjPM School Food Matters EP Business in Hospitality

🌟 CUBO Partner Spotlight: The Litmus Partnership🌟 The Litmus Partnership is a food service, purchasing solutions and facilities management consultancy, bringing their expertise to educational institutions for over 30 years. They have supported more than 40 universities to stand out from the crowd, from developing new strategies and business plans, to outsourcing services or improving in-house provision across catering, soft FM and hard FM 🏫 Litmus bring a fresh and independent perspective to deliver innovative, realistic strategies that result in positive outcomes for everyone. Find out how you can improve your catering and facilities management with The Litmus Partnership: https://lnkd.in/e8bm2aB4 #CampusServices #Catering #FacilitiesManagement

We’re delighted to announce that Candice Finn,  Managing Director, and Joe Parfitt, Education Consultancy Director, will be guest speakers at EP Business in Hospitality’s exclusive C-Suite Dinner tomorrow. This event will bring together senior leaders to discuss key issues in the education sector. Candice and Joe will share their insights on: 🔹The evolving role of consultancy and opportunities for greater collaboration 🔹How challenges in the education sector could impact the broader industry We’re proud to see our experts leading the conversation on such important topics. Read more about the amazing work EP Business in Hospitality do to facilitate collaboration and bring the industry together to find solutions: https://lnkd.in/e8xSxJfK

Sustainability in food procurement is a hot topic, but how can hospital caterers take meaningful steps toward greener practices? Here are five strategies to get started: 🔗Embrace British Supply Chains - Building relationships with British suppliers can be challenging, but the rewards are immense. Local sourcing reduces carbon emissions, supports healthier, seasonal food, and bolsters local economies. 🖥️ Leverage the Dynamic Procurement System (DPS) - This simplifies the process of connecting with local farmers and producers. By tapping into local resources, caterers can cut environmental impact while ensuring fresher ingredients. 🗑️ Tailor Pack Sizes to Cut Waste - Collaborating with suppliers to customise pack sizes helps reduce waste and streamline kitchen operations. It's a simple step with a big impact on sustainability. 🍂 Incorporate Seasonal Menu Changes - Adapting menus to feature seasonal ingredients ensures better quality at lower prices. Seasonal menus not only enhance the dining experience but also support sustainable farming practices. 🤝 Foster Strong Supplier Relationships - Good communication and collaboration with suppliers make all the difference. Involving them in menu planning ensures smoother operations, better value, and long-term sustainability. Sustainable food procurement is a win-win. It benefits the environment, improves patient health, and supports the NHS in achieving it's sustainability goals. Read more about how we help hospitals transform processes and provision for the better by clicking here:

We’re proud to continue our support for Treloar's an incredible charity providing specialist education for physically disabled children and young people. Their mission to empower students to be as independent as possible is truly inspiring. Recently, a team of 7 from Centre had a fantastic day helping out at Treloar’s Spooktacular Halloween Laser Light Show. From carving pumpkins and setting up gazebos to handing out lights and decorating the event space, we were thrilled to lend a hand. It’s always rewarding to see the smiles on everyone’s faces and to be part of such a meaningful cause. Thank you, Treloar’s, for the opportunity to support your amazing work. Read about our recent work with Treloar’s here: https://lnkd.in/e5XwpfaS

Join Joe Parfitt and Matt Garner from The Litmus Partnership Ltd on Friday, 29 November, from 11.00 - 12.00 to learn how to drive operating and cost efficiencies across your catering and facilities services and create opportunities to help mitigate the impact of VAT on school fees.  Joe and Matt will share practical steps to achieve efficiencies without compromising standards. They will discuss how catering and FM services are currently delivered in schools and why VAT changes may affect this. Discover which operating models best suit a school and where the biggest cost-efficiency opportunities lie so you can balance costs with quality in service delivery. ISBA members, book your place; https://lnkd.in/eCjH4DYF #IndependentSchools #ISBA

Ensuring that all eligible students access their Free School Meal (FSM) entitlement can provide significant advantages for schools, from combating hunger and supporting learning to securing essential funding through the Pupil Premium scheme. In our latest blog, Mike Neales, Senior Consultant at Litmus, shares expert strategies to help schools: 🍽️ Ensure FSM is discreet and easily accessible 🍽️ Offer flexible meal times to accommodate student needs 🍽️ Maximise FSM uptake on key census days 🍽️ Provide diverse meal options that appeal to all students Read the full blog to explore how optimising FSM funding and improving meal uptake can benefit your school, both financially and educationally https://lnkd.in/e56wsryi

We’re hiring! Due to continued growth, we are recruiting for an Associate Consultant in the Northwest of England, to partner with one of our existing Senior Consultants. The opportunity comes with an existing portfolio of clients as a base on which to grow activity across the region. We’re seeking candidates with experience of operating contracts or managing catering services who now wish to enter a consulting role to expand their skill base and help our clients get best value from these and other Soft Services. To apply, please send your CV and covering letter explaining your suitability for this position to Diana Lishman at dianalishman@litmuspartnership.co.uk