Taylor Shaw, a catering specialist in the education sector and part of the Elior Group, has been awarded a three-year contract extension at Elliott Hudson College in Leeds.
For the last two years, Taylor Shaw has served up to 1,000 students daily at the sixth form college. As well as optimum service delivery, Taylor Shaw’s contract extension was fuelled by its commitment to innovation. Elliott Hudson is the first college to have implemented a fully digital catering service and runs a fully cashless operation.
Successful implementation of Taylor Shaw’s ‘Breaz’ app for the on-site Costa Coffee shop and the college restaurant, has enabled students to order in advance as well as ‘click and collect’ food and beverages. A scan-and-go function is also available on the app for the grab-and-go counters and coffee stations.
Elliott Hudson College was also a successful trial site for Taylor Shaw’s self-serve kiosk technology. This digital screen allows students to place orders in the college’s café and restaurant and customise their choices. After the initial on-site kiosk trial, the response was so positive that a second kiosk became operational in close succession.
These cutting-edge initiatives, inspired by the B&I catering environment, have been instrumental in reducing student and staff queue times. Taylor Shaw’s digital innovation also links with the college’s bursary system allowing for a seamless and inclusive food journey for all students, regardless of whether their meals are self- or college-funded.
Taylor Shaw’s investment in technology provides greater data gathering and facilitates trialling new items on the menu or commissioning street food pop-ups. Visibility of data in real-time means Taylor Shaw can better understand eating habits and inform targeted promotions.
Lin Ridings, Operations Director at Taylor Shaw, said: “Our digital implementation at Elliot Hudson College exemplifies our constant dedication to improving not just what students eat, but how they experience their food service at college. We believe we are the first catering company to have implemented a fully digital journey like this in a sixth-form college. The enthusiastic response we’ve seen proves it is a welcome success.”
Jeanne McHale, Business Manager of Elliot Hudson College, added: “The recent digital trials with Taylor Shaw have led to an extremely quick and efficient service for all our students. As an educational institution, we are constantly trying to give the next generation the best tools for their future, and Taylor Shaw’s focus on accessibility is vital to ensuring student satisfaction and productivity.”