HCLcatering

16/09/2026

Having a good, healthy breakfast helps set us up correctly for the day ahead. For our children, it's important that they're eating foods that will help fuel them for a day full of learning and play. 🧠

With busy mornings and endless choices lining supermarket shelves, it can be difficult to know which breakfast options are genuinely nutritious. From cereals and toast to yoghurt and fruit, making healthy choices isn't always as straightforward as it seems.

That's why our latest educational news piece helps answer the question: What does a healthy breakfast look like? It is designed to help parents better understand what a balanced breakfast looks like and how small changes can make a big difference to a child's day. 🥣

Find out how to build a healthy breakfast, what foods provide lasting energy, and simple ways to make breakfast both nutritious and enjoyable for the whole family today!

https://www.hcl.co.uk/post/what-does-a-healthy-breakfast-look-like

15/09/2026

✨ We're Hiring! ✨

We're recruiting Mobile Cook Managers and Catering Assistants to join our friendly and supportive teams across primary and secondary schools.

With term-time contracts ranging from 16.25 to 27.5 hours per week, we offer flexible working opportunities that can fit around your lifestyle and commitments.

If you have a passion for food, enjoy working as part of a team, and want to make a real difference to pupils every day, we'd love to hear from you!

📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Apply online: https://www.hcl.co.uk/vacancies

14/09/2026

We're incredibly proud to have received the 2026 Fast Payer Award from , recognising HCL as one of the UK's top 10% of large companies for paying suppliers on time.

Strong supplier relationships are essential to our success, and we know that prompt payment can make a real difference to businesses, particularly smaller suppliers. This award reflects our commitment to being a responsible and reliable business partner.

Our Finance Director, Jolyon Adam, and Finance Manager, Lindsey Mead, attended the awards ceremony on behalf of HCL.

Reflecting on the evening, Lindsey said:

"We had a really nice evening, and it was great to see our logo up on a board with some huge companies. It was definitely a proud moment for HCL."

Receiving this award is a fantastic recognition of the hard work and dedication of our finance team, and of the high standards we set across the business.

10/09/2026

We were delighted to be part of the Broxbourne School Open Evening, welcoming prospective students and their families as they explored everything the school has to offer.

Food is an important part of the school day, and the evening gave us a fantastic opportunity to showcase how we're supporting students with nutritious, high-quality meals that help them learn, grow and thrive.

Visitors enjoyed sampling dishes from our secondary school menu, including some of our popular global flavours and high street-inspired Street Eats brand, giving future students a taste of the variety, quality and exciting choices available at lunchtime.

It was also a great opportunity to meet families, answer questions and demonstrate how we're bringing our purpose of Feeding Growing Minds to life through great food and positive dining experiences.

A huge thank you to our Operations Managers and Kitchen Teams, whose passion, professionalism and warm welcome helped make the evening such a success.

07/09/2026

Free School Meal eligibility has expanded - could your child now qualify? 🍽️

More families are now eligible for Free School Meals, meaning any household receiving Universal Credit may be entitled to additional support for their children.

A Free School Meal provides children with a nutritious, balanced lunch each school day, helping them stay focused and ready to learn, while also helping families reduce food costs.

At HCL, we're proud to provide fresh, healthy school meals that support children's wellbeing and development.

Check whether your child is eligible today: https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals

04/09/2026

How much do you know about sugar?

Sugar is found in many of the foods and drinks we enjoy every day, but understanding how it affects our bodies can help us make healthier choices for ourselves and our children.

Our latest educational article explores the impact of sugar on the body, explains what 'free sugars' are and shares practical guidance on managing sugar intake as part of a balanced diet.

Read our latest news post on the HCL website to learn more about sugar and discover how we carefully manage sugar content across our menus to support the health and wellbeing of the children we serve.

https://www.hcl.co.uk/post/what-is-sugar

Sugars are simple carbohydrates that are primarily used by our bodies for energy. This energy is broken down and released quickly which can lead to spikes and drops in our energy levels. Sugary foods and drinks are often energy dense and if we consume too much too often, it can lead to weight gain a...

04/09/2026

✨ Start the new school term with a new career! ✨

We're looking for Mobile Cook Managers and Catering Assistants to join our welcoming teams across primary and secondary schools.

With contracts ranging from 16.25 to 27.5 hours per week, we offer flexible opportunities to suit a variety of lifestyles and commitments.

If you're passionate about food, enjoy working as part of a team, and want to make a positive difference to pupils every day, we'd love to hear from you!

📧 Email us at [email protected]
🌐 Apply online: https://www.hcl.co.uk/vacancies

04/09/2026

✨ Start the new school term with a new career! ✨

We're recruiting Mobile Cook Managers and Catering Assistants to join our friendly teams in primary and secondary schools.

With roles ranging from 27.5 to 16.25 hours per week, we have a variety of opportunities available to fit different lifestyles and commitments.

We're looking for passionate, reliable, and hardworking individuals who want to make a positive impact in our schools.✨

If this sounds like you, get in touch at [email protected] or apply at https://www.hcl.co.uk/vacancies

02/09/2026

And just like that... we're back! 🍎💚

While schools have been quieter over the summer, our teams certainly haven't. We've spent the last few months working together across HCL, refining processes, developing exciting new menus and creating new ways to help children discover, enjoy and learn about food.

September is always one of the most exciting times of the year. For many children, it's the start of a brand-new chapter, whether that's their very first day at school or the beginning of a new year group. We're proud to be part of that journey.

At HCL, we believe food does far more than fill plates. Great food fuels learning, supports wellbeing, encourages healthy habits and helps children get the very best from their school day. That's why we're passionate about not only serving nutritious, delicious meals, but also helping pupils build a positive relationship with food that stays with them for life.

We're delighted to welcome new schools joining the HCL family this term and, of course, all the familiar faces we've had the pleasure of serving over the years.

Here's to a successful, exciting and delicious school year ahead. We can't wait to get started. 💚

11/08/2026

Do you know how much water you're drinking each day? Is it as much as you should be?

Water is vital for our bodies. Each day we lose water in various ways, so it's important we stay hydrated and replenish our fluids as much as needed.

The same goes for our children. Because children have smaller bodies and higher metabolic rates than adults, they lose water much faster. From being out in the sun, to running around playing or being poorly, there are plenty of ways that children can easily become dehydrated.

Check out our latest nutritionist news piece - 'Hydration: Why every sip matters' to see which fluids count towards your daily intake, and how you can help support your child in staying hydrated!💧

https://www.hcl.co.uk/post/hydration-in-schools-why-every-sip-matters

Around 60% of our bodies are made up of water. Throughout the day, water is lost from the body by processes such as sweating and going to the toilet. It's important that we replace this lost water through hydration to ensure the body stays healthy and able to function correctly. Why is Water Importa...