Queen Margaret University Catering Contractor

The successful Supplier will be required to provide Catering and Hospitality services for Queen Margaret University.

Contract value = GBP13 million over the whole lifetime of the contract

Queen Margaret University was established in 1875 as “The Edinburgh School of Cookery” and gained full university title in 2007. The University moved to a brand-new campus at Craighall on the outskirts of Edinburgh in the autumn of 2007. The new campus is a vibrant new academic village with high-tech buildings and attractive landscaped spaces, featuring an innovative Learning Resource Centre at the heart of the development.

The University has a combined student and staff population of nearly 8000 in total, with 4200 students attending the campus. There are modern student residences on campus which can accommodate up to 800 students or guests, and the bidder is required to include proposals for a student meal plan that can be purchased at the beginning of term or academic year. Over 28% of the students are not resident in Scotland at time of enrolling, including a growing African community. The University has over 500 staff.

The University is opening an Innovation Hub in 2025 with an anticipated catering facility. The vision is that the offer is different from the existing catering offer, to provide catering to the community, building users, and an expansion of the current events business. The kitchen within the new building is small, and it is anticipated that any service relies upon the main 1875 kitchen.

In providing a catering service, the University promotes opportunities for social interaction amongst students and staff, provides an attractive package to support commercial conferencing and events business and promotes the image of the University to visiting prospective students and staff.

The University has a strong social conscience and aims to be a true asset to the local community, and the wider world. The local community includes people living nearby, local schools and businesses. The Students Union welcome opportunities for students to gain employment and training within the catering service, which fits with their study schedule.

The University would welcome proposals that include engagement with local growers and suppliers to ensure local businesses benefit from the catering provided to the University.