Category: Awards

OCS Catering Service Rated Exemplar by NHS England

Posted on by stephanieamata

We are proud to announce that OCS catering services at St Bernard’s Hospital, part of West London NHS Trust, have retained their exemplary site status, a recognition given by NHS England to healthcare providers that have demonstrated excellence.

This achievement is a testament to our team’s commitment to delivering exceptional patient care, fostering a supportive work environment, promoting sustainability, and actively engaging with the communities they serve.

Receiving exemplar status from NHS England is no easy feat. Here are just a few of the ways in which our teams were able to demonstrate excellence:

  • Increasing the number of low-carbon and vegan/vegetarian dishes and regularly updating the menu to reflect the changing seasons.
  • Offering patients an ‘out of hours’ menu with food items they can prepare themselves at their convenience.
  • Arranging special meals for patients and their loved ones on Christmas and Valentine’s Day.
  • Partnering with Love British Food to incorporate more locally sourced products from farms and SMEs.
  • Launching a Soup Kitchen initiative to offer meals to those facing food insecurity.

We would like to congratulate our colleagues, whose dedication and ongoing demonstration of our TRUE Values has resulted in this well-deserved recognition, well done!

  • Learn More About Our Bespoke Catering Services

    Learn More

Celebrating Excellence: OCS Business Units Shine with RoSPA Gold Awards

Posted on by stephanieamata

We are delighted to announce that OCS has been honoured with multiple RoSPA Gold awards across our business. These prestigious accolades underscore the culture we have fostered, prioritising health and safety for our colleagues, customers, and the communities we serve.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), a respected not-for-profit organisation, has dedicated over a century to helping people recognise and mitigate risks in various aspects of life—whether at home, on the road, at work, or during leisure activities. Their mission is to empower everyone to lead safer lives.

RoSPA’s Achievement Awards recognise outstanding health and safety performance. These awards are categorised into four tiers: Commendable, Bronze, Silver, and the highest honour, Gold. Achieving a Gold Award signifies a very high level of performance, including robust occupational health and safety management systems, exceptional risk control, and minimal incidents of error, harm, and loss.

The rigorous process for submitting an Achievement Award involves providing evidence-based insights into our safety measures and reflecting on our safety history and experiences within our safety department. These measures are tailored to the unique demands of our various roles, whether it’s ensuring safety during at-height window cleaning or maintaining heavy machinery.

The following business units across OCS have been awarded Gold:

We take immense pride in our business units’ dedication to safety, and we’re thrilled to see so many of them achieve the highest results. This accomplishment exemplifies our dedication to safeguarding lives and well-being.

  • Learn more about how we continue to set the standard for excellence in our industry

    Visit Our Awards Page

    Awards & Recognition

OCS Wins Large Employer Award at West Midlands Adult Learning Awards in Partnership with Pilot IMS

Posted on by stephanieamata

Last week we were honoured with the Large Employer Award by West Midlands Adult Learning in partnership with Pilot IMS. The award recognises OCS’s outstanding commitment to workforce development and community engagement.

OCS has harnessed the power of Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) to empower West Midlands residents. These innovative programmes designed by Pilot IMS with our full support focuses on the security, events, and venues industry—a vital sector for the regional economy. By collaborating with Pilot IMS, OCS has created a pathway for in

Through SWAPs, participants undergo a rigorous four to eight-week practical and tailored training course, equipping them with essential skills for roles in security, visitor management, and stewarding. All programme learners receive guaranteed interviews with OCS, ensuring a seamless transition into employment.

OCS also actively engages with each potential recruit, ensuring their training aligns with the company’s business needs. Live observations and assessments take place at prominent venues, including the NEC, Resorts World Arena, and Utilita Arena Birmingham.

OCS’s exponential growth in the West Midlands has created hundreds of part-time and full-time opportunities for local residents. The SWAPs programme establishes an ongoing pipeline of referral opportunities, even reaching multiple members within the same families.

“We are thrilled to receive the Large Employer Award. Our collaboration with Pilot IMS has allowed us to make a tangible impact on the lives of West Midlands residents. Through SWAPs, we’re not only providing employment but also fostering a sense of community and empowerment. Thank you to WMCA for the prestigious recognition.”

Baldip Manku

OCS Training Specialist

Our partnership with OCS has been a beacon of progress and community empowerment in the West Midlands. The recognition by West Midlands Adult Learning that OCS was the Large Employer of The Year is not just an award; it’s a testament to our collective dedication to transforming lives through employment and training. This accolade further supports Pilot’s recent Ofsted grade of “Outstanding for Adult Education”, highlighting our commitment to excellence and the positive impact we have on the community. Together with OCS, we are setting a standard for meaningful corporate-community partnerships, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this impactful journey.

Andy Pettigrew

Company Owner, Pilot IMS

OCS Royal Papworth Hospital Team Win for Partnership Award!

Posted on by ichaudry

We’re thrilled to announce that our team at Royal Papworth, along with partners Equitix, Skanska, and Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Trust, won the Partnership Award in the ‘Best Operational – Healthcare’ category. This award recognises our consistently delivered service and sustainable partnership with our customer and other facility management providers on-site. The OCS team at Royal Papworth successfully navigated a rigorous review process in 2023, ensuring continued excellence in service without disruption.

The win acknowledges the challenges posed by the demanding contract, which subject to heightened scrutiny. OCS, together with industry partners, worked closely with the Trust to manage the contract, implementing robust reporting and compliance while valuing and prioritising partnership. Positive patient and employee feedback has demonstrated the effectiveness of this collaboration.

Collaboratively, the teams established the Team Royal Papworth Hospital Charter and a Joint Efficiency Group, addressing recurring challenges and enabling continuous improvement. By fostering transparency with industry partners and key stakeholders, the OCS team tailored services to the unique needs of the facilities.

Congratulations to the Royal Papworth Team!

Winning this award is a testament to our commitment to excellence. Our collaborative approach, transparent service delivery, and strong partnerships have allowed us to consistently exceed expectations. We’re proud of the positive impact we’ve made, and this award reflects the dedication of our entire team

Jo Senders

PFI Director – Public Sector

OCS’s Goodness Initiative Shortlisted for Prestigious Cateys Award 

Posted on by stephanieamata

The Cateys, the most prestigious awards in the hospitality industry, have announced their shortlist for this year’s awards. The awards, held in collaboration with P&O Cruises, acknowledge outstanding performers, inspiring brands, and top achievers within the sector, as determined by industry professionals. 

Among those shortlisted is OCS, a leading global facilities management business. Their catering brand, Angel Hill’s Goodness initiative, has been nominated in the Health and Nutrition Award category. 

The Goodness initiative was born from a need to communicate the value of proper nutrition, debunk food fads, and reintroduce fun into healthy eating. Their team of chefs and nutritionists passionately crafted pathways to bring diverse, nutrient-dense meals to teams. In 2023, they bolstered the initiative with customised and cost-conscious approaches in both the public and private sectors. Through strategic investments, they empowered on-site catering managers with resources to provide nutritious meals to teams nationwide. 

I am proud of the work Goodness has done and the people we have reached and impacted. This nomination serves as a signifier of the importance of properly and accessibly communicating the benefits of healthy eating. We look forward to doing more with Goodness. Thank you to the Cateys for this recognition, and good luck to our fellow nominees.

Iona Hudson

Nutritionist

The initiative comprises various forms of activation material and events aimed at introducing “more of the good stuff” into eating. The team carried out local pop-ups on customer sites, including schools and hospitals, where they engaged in complimentary ‘Goodness Lessons’ for students. These lessons communicated how foods can aid students in their learning and processing. In hospitals, the team engaged in complimentary ‘Coffee & Chat Sessions’, taking the familiar format of a coffee chat to create an engaging, conversational setting for healthcare residents. This provided insight into evidence-based information to empower residents on the benefits of proper nutrition. 

Apart from the events and pop-ups carried out by the teams, their Goodness initiative also aimed to tackle a more climate-conscious food service delivery by providing “reduced-carbon recipes”. These recipes, where possible, use 20% less meat, substituting with lentils and pulses instead. This approach does not entirely isolate the large percentage of the population that still eats meat, but slightly alters the recipe to use less of it. 

The winners will be announced on the 2nd of July at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London. Congratulations to all the nominees! 

OCS’s Ministry of Justice Team Shortlisted for FSM Security Team of the Year Award 

Posted on by stephanieamata

The esteemed Fire and Security Matters Awards has revealed its 2024 shortlist and our OCS Ministry of Justice team is a finalist in the Security Team of the Year category. This nomination is a testament to their dedication to excellence and collaborative work ethos. 

The team’s hands-on approach, with managers actively involved on the ground, fosters a motivated and cohesive workforce. They consistently strive to enhance and modernise their processes for maximum efficiency. In a notable development, the visitor and contractor service revamped their check-in process by adopting digital sign-ins and streamlining queues, resulting in shorter wait times. Furthermore, the team has embraced eco-friendly practices, such as electronic logs and double-sided printing, significantly reducing their environmental impact and enhancing their corporate image. 

We are immensely proud of our Ministry of Justice team, whose nomination stands as a testament to our TRUE Values which we embed throughout our organisation. Well done to the team for their hard work and dedication, we wish them the best at the finals this year and thank you to FSM for the recognition.

Ian Nisbet

Managing Director for Public Sector FM

In addition to investing in the team’s learning and development through apprenticeship programmes and mental health training, the leadership team actively engages with industry experts, participates in forums, and contributes to security standards development. This collaborative effort not only strengthens our security stance but also enriches the wider community’s response to security challenges. 

The team operates with a proactive mindset, addressing potential threats before they materialise. Their genuine commitment to safeguarding customer assets has garnered numerous accolades, exemplified by their proactive security audits and vulnerability assessments. Most recently, the head of security was honoured with a British Empire Medal by His Majesty King Charles III for their outstanding contributions. 

OCS Royal Papworth Hospital Team Nominated for Partnership Award

Posted on by stephanieamata

We’re excited to announce that our team at Royal Papworth, alongside our partners at Equitix, Skanska, and Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Trust, has been nominated for a Partnership Award in the “Best Operational – Healthcare” category.

Royal Papworth Hospital is recognised as the UK’s leading heart and lung hospital, treating approximately 50,000 patients each year. Since the hospital opened in 2019, our on-site team has been providing integrated soft services such as catering, cleaning, portering and security.

This nomination recognises our consistently delivered service and sustainable partnership with our clients and other facility management providers on-site.  Through exceeding expectations with transparent service delivery, the OCS team at Royal Papworth successfully navigated a rigorous review process in 2023. Recognising the close working relationships and dedicated efforts the OCS team have put in since service commencement, this process ensured continued excellence in service with no disruption.

We were delighted to note the inclusion in the nomination of multiple examples of positive patient and staff feedback related to our services, which is a testament to the OCS team’s hard work.

Working collaboratively, the teams at Royal Papworth have established the Team Royal Papworth Hospital Charter and a Joint Efficiency Group. This group meets quarterly to address recurring challenges, share insights, and offer valuable advice demonstrating flexibility and enabling continuous improvement opportunities through a partnership approach.

This nomination is a great honour and a testament to our commitment to quality service, effective partnerships, and the dedication of our team. We’re thrilled to have been recognised this way and we’re eager for the announcement on the 2nd of May. Good luck to all our fellow nominees!

Lindsey Coles

Support Director

The charter, based on Excellence, Collaboration, Communication, and Compassion, directs their collaborative work. By fostering transparency with industry partners and key stakeholders within the Trust, the OCS team has tailored their services to the unique needs of the facilities and their users.

Congratulations to the Royal Papworth Team. We look forward to the announcement of the winners on Thursday 2 May. 

Bronze to Silver: Our Food for Life Journey Towards Healthier, Sustainable Catering

Posted on by emmacook

Achieving Excellence

We are thrilled to announce that our Food for Life Served Here award at our KBR customer site has been upgraded from Bronze to Silver. This remarkable achievement was accomplished in less than a year, thanks to the tireless efforts of our dedicated on-site catering team.

The Food for Life Served Here is an independent recognition given to catering companies. This accolade signifies that our menu offerings meet certain high standards, confirming our commitment to serving fresh and honest food. Our team of trained chefs are passionate about their ingredients’ provenance and are committed to promoting healthy eating choices

I would like to congratulate OCS at KBR on their upgrade to Silver Food for Life Served Here certification. The upgrade took place within a year of gaining Bronze, a fantastic achievement. All of us at Soil Association are proud to be supporting the clear commitment to sourcing and serving food that is better for climate, nature and health.

Caron Logden

Head of Business Development, Healthy and Sustainable Diets at the Soil Association

We truly appreciate the hard work and dedication of the OCS catering team at KBR. Their commitment to providing fresh, healthy meals that respect the environment and prioritise animal welfare has been recognized with the upgrade to Silver. This recognition assures our employees that they can find excellent nutritional options right here onsite. This upgrade also takes KBR a step further to achieving its zero harm and sustainability goals. Congratulations to the catering team on this well-deserved achievement.

Duncan Knapp

Senior Manager, Facility Operations at KBR Ltd

Levelling Up

With the Bronze level, we guaranteed the welfare of animals, prepared 75% of our dishes fresh on site, and catered to a variety of cultural and dietary needs, including vegan, halal, and kosher options.

The upgrade to the Silver level means we have met even higher standards. We’ve reduced salt, used ethically sourced palm oil or eliminated it completely, and ensured our produce is sustainably sourced. Our menus now feature at least 5% organic produce, sourced from farms that prioritise the protection of natural resources such as fresh water and wildlife, and uphold high animal welfare standards. Furthermore, our food is free from genetically modified ingredients, hydrogenated fats, and most artificial additives and preservatives.

Achieving this milestone in under a year reflects our concerted efforts, diligent work, and beneficial partnerships with Leaf-certified and Red Tractor-assured suppliers. The award is another significant step in our support for our customer’s zero harm and sustainability goals in conjunction with the efforts made in this area by the wider site-based teams.

We’re thrilled to have achieved such a milestone in under a year thanks to the constant work of our chefs and team who build important partnerships with our suppliers, putting great care and consideration into our supply chain and cooking practices. This Silver upgrade indicates our continued progress towards providing healthy and sustainable catering services.
Even as we celebrate this step, we’re setting our sights on achieving gold!

Chris Ashmore

Business Director, OCS

food for life silver catering award

Find out more about OCS Catering services

OCS Wins Top Awards for Environmental Best Practice at Bluewater

Posted on by peterstatham

Three times award winner at the Green Apple Awards

OCS has been awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze at the Green Apple Awards for Environmental Best Practice in recognition of its work at retail and leisure destination Bluewater in Kent.

For the past 7 years OCS has delivered a full portfolio of security, cleaning, mechanical and electrical, concierge, landscaping, and management and administration services at Bluewater. The gold award was received for its ‘Making Room for Nature’ biodiversity project which also created a vital wellbeing space for the local community at the Bluewater nature trail.

Biodiversity initatives

As part of the project the team created 188m2 of new flower beds and introduced pollinating plants and British native species to support insects. An additional 330m2 of wildflower planting was seeded in low quality areas to include the Cotoneaster Franchetti which absorbs 20% more air pollutants than other similar sized shrubs. The team reviewed all the planting and worked in collaboration with the onsite landscaping team and ecologist to draft this programme of improvements.

Sustainability and Innovation

The Silver award was for an ‘LED lighting programme’ that OCS introduced which was a phased lighting upgrade programme to convert all functional lights to LED and install automated controls and metering. This has delivered a 65% reduction in energy costs and associated carbon emissions. The Bronze award was for a ‘Building Sustainable Communities’ project which saw the team work with several local charities and community groups to raise environmental awareness, delivering 90 hours of community-based volunteering and over £400,000 of social value over the past year.

“To win gold, silver and bronze at the Green Apple Awards is a fantastic achievement and the team at Bluewater should all be very proud of their hard work. Working in partnership with our client with aligned values around the importance of collaboration, integrity and respect for communities and the environment has helped us to make a real difference. We will continue to support biodiversity on site and intend to use it for educational purposes for local schools as part of our community-based volunteering projects.”

Jacky So

ESG Director at OCS UK & Ireland

OCS receive social value commendation at ERSA Employability Awards 2023

Posted on by ameliaroberts

OCS were honoured to receive a social value commendation at the ERSA Employability Awards 2023.

We always aim to be our best, delivering the best partnerships and best services every time. It takes a hard-working, knowledgeable and compassionate team to provide the services and initiatives at OCS and we are extremely proud of our commendation.

The ERSA Employability Awards celebrate best practice in the employment support sector and demonstrate the hard work and dedication of those working to improve the lives of jobseekers, communities and the wider workforce.

We were also thrilled to have been nominated by Ingeus for the ‘Employer Partnership of the Year Award’.

Unlocking potential: placing people into work with OCS

The nomination

We are committed to being a responsible employer and building a diverse and inclusive workforce reflective of the communities we serve. We have an established ‘Placing People into Work’ programme dedicated to changing lives by providing meaningful employment to people from vulnerable groups and pathways for development for all our colleagues.

Ingeus and OCS work closely together to develop and refine tailored recruitment processes for each contract. By tailoring the pre-selection process, we ensure that candidates are equipped with everything they need to help them succeed in work. This includes making sure candidates have the necessary documents, information and training ahead of being interviewed, and that support mechanisms are in place for new recruits once they are in work.

Ingeus is now supporting us to fill vacancies for Court Tribunal and Security Officers (CTSO) in London and Greater Manchester. Together we have developed and refined a recruitment process, established service level agreements, and are now delivering exceptional results. In the last such recruitment exercise there were 20 candidates put forward for interview who secured job offers.

To help prepare candidates for interview Ingeus works with OCS to:

  • Source candidates with the right skills and aptitudes for the role
  • Deliver employer information sessions
  • Fund participants Security Industry Association (SIA) licences
  • Deliver a bespoke 3-day CTSO routeway course (designed by OCS)
  • Arrange a visit to a local court
  • Prepare documents for the enhanced security vetting processes

All candidates who successfully complete the CTSO routeway course are put forward for interview.

In the first recruitment round, Ingeus Employer Account Manager Farwa spent several weeks calling 160 potential applicants to see whether the role would suit them. She narrowed the search down to 12 people who attended a three-day Routeway Course devised by Ingeus to explain the job in detail. Seven people were offered roles, four of whom are female.

“There wasn’t a dry eye in the building – people were jumping up and down with delight after getting the jobs,” she recalls. “An established company had given them a chance and you couldn’t help but feel the emotion in the room.”

In undertaking this innovative and tailored approach to recruitment through Ingeus, we are attracting candidates who would not typically apply for our vacancies. In doing so we are challenging role stereotypes (gender, age, ethnicity etc.) and creating a stronger workforce which is more reflective of the communities we work within.

Stephen Kerr, Senior Regional Manager, OCS, said the partnership had been instrumental in supporting our drive to attract women and others currently under-represented in the security industry.

“Working with Ingeus on our social value recruitment process, we have been able to recruit talented people into our workforce who have unique experiences and abilities,” he said. “In our role at HM Courts and Tribunals Service, showing our customers genuine empathy in difficult circumstances is a key skill and our Ingeus recruits have that in abundance.”

Ann-Marie Conlon-Taylor, OCS Social Value Manager, HMCTS contract added: “Working with Ingeus helps us access people who have faced barriers to work, but who are being properly supported in a professional manner into employment. We were very impressed with the calibre of applicants put forward.”

OCS awarded double Gold by RoSPA for exceptional health and safety achievements

Posted on by ameliaroberts

OCS, one of the world’s leading international facilities service providers, has been honoured with the highly esteemed Gold RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) Award for its outstanding commitment to Health and Safety.

OCS was awarded a Gold RoSPA for its National Grid Vegetation and Industrial Painting contracts, where they consistently demonstrated exemplary health and safety standards implementing proactive measures to identify and mitigate potential risks across its operations. OCS are committed to safe working on every site, every day, and their non-complicated approach is combined with proactive management at all levels to ensure occupational health and safety are treated as a core value.

John Prowse, National Operations Director at OCS said, “Safety is a key priority for all operations at OCS. By achieving the Gold Award, we have proven our commitment to safeguarding our colleagues, customers and the public from potential harm, and have set a benchmark for others in the industry to follow.

“We are committed to ensuring safety plays a key role in every facet of the business. We recognise this requires a sustained commitment and active involvement at all levels – from the board, to managers, support teams and frontline colleagues. This has helped to create the necessary conditions for high standards in safety performance and continual improvements towards an injury-free workplace.”

“Accidents at work and work-related ill health cause major disruption and can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life. That’s why good safety performance deserves to be recognised and rewarded.

We are thrilled that OCS has won two Gold RoSPA Awards and would like to congratulate them on showing an unwavering commitment to keeping their employees and customers safe from accidental harm and injury.”

Julia Small

RoSPA’s Achievements Director

The RoSPA Awards recognise organisations that have successfully implemented and maintained comprehensive health and safety management systems. Entrants are rigorously assessed on various criteria including accident prevention, risk assessment, employee training and engagement.

The Gold RoSPA Award adds to the growing list of accolades and recognitions OCS has received for its commitment to excellence. As a company, OCS has been recognised with 12 RoSPA awards in 2023 and remains steadfast in its pursuit of continuous improvement and will continue to invest in health and safety initiatives to ensure the well-being of its workforce and all stakeholders.

Angel Hill Food Co chef wins ‘StrEATfood Chef of the Year 2023’

Posted on by ameliaroberts

A Development Chef who works for leading contract caterer Angel Hill Food Co, has been awarded a highly prestigious award recognising his outstanding talent, creativity and dedication to delivering exceptional food experiences.

Matt Chapman was named “StrEATfood Chef of the year” at the Annual StrEATfood Awards which searches for the UK’s most creative street food chef from the workplace and event catering sectors. He beat 15 other chefs who were also shortlisted after entering their signature street food dishes for the panel of judges, with a winning dish of a Keralan steak and chip butty. He also came second in the ‘Dish of the year’ category with his Oak smoked goat birria tacos.

Matt has worked at Angel Hill Food Co for almost 6 years where he develops recipes for clients, creating dishes that are tasty, healthy and different.

Commenting on his win Matt said: “I am truly honoured and humbled by this recognition. Street food is all about connecting with people through the power of food and I feel incredibly lucky to have this platform to share my passion.  This award belongs to my dedicated team who have supported me throughout the competition and given me the opportunity to explore new flavours, techniques, and cultures.  My company has always championed my ambitions – providing me, and my team, with the tools and skills to do more, allowing us to achieve great things together.”

Chris Ince, Chef Director at Angel Hill Food Co, added: “We are extremely proud of Matt and this incredible achievement.  His passion for food shines through in his engagement with all of our frontline teams and the amazing food he creates for our clients. These awards are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate all that the contract catering industry has to offer, and they are aligned to our commitment to making people and places the best they can be.”