BaxterStorey has recognised the dedication of its exemplary staff at the company’s first BaxterStorey Awards. Held at the Summer Marquee in the Walks at Gray’s Inn, London, last night (Thursday 7 July), the awards celebrated the talented teams and individuals who go above and beyond every day.
Award categories included Chef of the Year, Innovation of the Year and Kitchen Porter of the Year. National Barista Trainer, Jana Slamova, was delighted to take home the coveted Rising Star Award for her outstanding contribution to BaxterStorey’s Barista Academy. Throughout her five years with the company, she has progressed to represent the sector as one of the top female baristas in the UK, competing in national competitions and sharing her knowledge with colleagues across the business.
The winner of the prestigious BaxterStorey Award was announced as Tim Sturk, head of coffee training and development. The award recognises an outstanding individual who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to improving the business and wider industry. Tim was nominated for his dedication and hard work to coffee, not only within BaxterStorey but the global coffee industry. Over the past eight years, Tim’s influence and knowledge has expanded to great heights. His achievements include creating the first foodservice catering Barista Academy, judging at the World Barista Championships and developing a team of Coffee Specialists to train baristas nationally.
In addition to nine individual category winners, Nationwide House was named Team of the Year for their excellence in health and safety, customer satisfaction and client relationships. The BaxterStorey team has also joined forces with Nationwide employees to create a calendar of charity and citizenship activities. As a result, over £25,000 was raised for good causes in 2015 alone. In addition, the team has committed its support to Uplands Educational Trust, helping to create a community café and offering work placements to young people supported by the charity.
Alastair Storey, Chairman at BaxterStorey, said: “These inaugural awards recognise the dedication and hard work of our outstanding teams, without whom we would could not deliver the high standards our clients and customers expect. The BaxterStorey family across the UK, Ireland and Northern Europe is one that I am incredibly proud of and these awards are testimony to the growing talent within our business.”
To mark the momentous occasion, Matt Hay, chef director at BaxterStorey, created a special menu celebrating the very best in seasonal British produce. Guests enjoyed dishes including Kent heritage tomato salad, torn buffalo mozzarella and cold pressed Hertfordshire rapeseed, followed by Herefordshire beef Char Siu, Lincolnshire carrots, girolles, crisp polenta and yuzu citrus, and English strawberries, ricotta, burnt chocolate and basil.
Fundraising for Action Against Hunger took place throughout the awards evening, with guests donating an incredible £3,000. The BaxterStorey Foundation has matched the donations taking the total to £6,000 for the charity, which carries out innovative, lifesaving programmes in nutrition, food security, water, sanitation and hygiene across the world.