Essex-based leading caterer Seasoned helped hospitality students serve up a treat at the prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prizes dinner.
The formal event takes place every two years to celebrate winners of the Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Further and Higher Education, which recognise excellence, innovation and the public benefit in work carried out by colleges and universities in the UK.
The Prizes, which are managed by the Royal Anniversary Trust, are the highest national honour awarded in UK further and higher education and are granted by The Queen every two years.
The glittering celebratory dinner on February 16 at London’s Guildhall, which followed the announcement of the Prize-winners, was supported by hospitality students from MidKent College and overseen by Seasoned. The Prizes were presented by the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal in a presentation ceremony at St James’s Palace on February 17.
The Ingatestone-based caterer is selected to run the prestigious event because the company offers students the opportunity to gain real-world experience of working within the sector, with a host of roles on offer at the dinner for 400 people. Alongside the hospitality students, the event was also supported by singers from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, who provided the musical interludes during the evening.
Colin Sayers, Seasoned’s Managing Partner, Events, said: “It was an honour for Seasoned to once again support the running of this high-profile event. It is fitting that at an event that celebrates the lengths these institutions go to in support of their students, we can offer an opportunity for these young people to put their skills to the test. It’s a fantastic collaboration that shows just what can be achieved when students are given real-world experiences.”
The achievements of the Prize-winners were celebrated in the company of a wide range of guests from all sectors of national life. This year’s special guests included the heads and leaders of the twenty-one Prize-winning universities and colleges and Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws QC who gave the keynote address.
Peter Chenery, Chief Executive of the Royal Anniversary Trust, who commissioned Seasoned, said: “Seasoned did a really great job at the Trust’s event at Guildhall celebrating this round’s winners of The Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Higher Education. They are very familiar with the purpose of the Prizes scheme in advancing education and work well with the further education hospitality students who are traditionally invited to support the event. It has been a pleasure working again with Seasoned whose attention to detail and concern for the client’s expectations are notable.”
The Queen’s Anniversary Prizes is a two-year programme where universities and colleges submit applications which are then reviewed by industry leaders. A shortlist is considered by the Awards Council of the Trust (trustees, senior officials from across the UK and others) and a list of recommended institutions is presented to The Queen for approval on the Prime Minister’s advice.
