Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Mark Hayman of the Hospital Caterers Association and Bill Toner, chief executive of CH&Co.  Mark was honoured for many years of selfless work supporting the HCA and its members, while Bill’s award was recognition of not just one, but three successful spells in contract catering with Gardner Merchant, Aramark and now CH&Co.

The Contract Caterer Award was picked up by The Genuine Dining Co., following a busy year in which it increased sales by £4.1m, added five new client sites, acquired the Japanese casual dining chain Feng Sushi, and set up its care sector brand Signature Dining.

The Education Award went to the University of Stirling, while the school meals organisation LACA won the Marketing Award for its work around the 25th anniversary of National School Meals Week last year.

The awards night host was writer and broadcaster Danny Wallace, while head chef Russell Impiazzi and his team served 700-plus guests a menu of roasted vegetable mosaic mushroom jelly with whipped goats cheese, followed braised lamb neck and a dessert of dark chocolate and raspberry tart.

Cost Sector Catering editor David Foad said: “It was a terrific awards night, a genuine celebration of the best in public sector and workplace catering. 

“My congratulations go to all the winners, with thanks to everyone who was nominated for making our judges work so hard over difficult decisions this year.”

Take a look at some of the action from the evening - you can see the full list of winners by visiting cscawards.co.uk