Question 1

Do I need procurement experience to be able to attend the webinars?

Accepted Answer

Procurement experience, while useful, isn't necessary for the webinars. This session is suitable for individuals new to ESPO frameworks, those unfamiliar with the Catering Services framework, those seeking a recap on the process, or those requiring additional support.

Question 2

Do I need to attend Part 1 and Part 2?

Accepted Answer

For a comprehensive understanding of the framework, we recommend attending both sessions. That said, if you have procurement experience and prefer to attend only Part 2, or would like to join Part 1 for introductory information to support a future requirement, that's absolutely fine.

Question 3

How long will the sessions be?

Accepted Answer

Each webinar will last around an hour, with time allotted for a Q&A. Should you need to join late or leave early, please let us know prior to the webinar.

Question 4

Our catering is currently in-house, can I still attend the webinar?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the webinar will be particularly suitable for customers looking to move from in-house catering to an outsourced provision. We also have a framework suitable for in-house catering which we'll briefly cover in the first webinar. For more information on this , please contact food@espo.org.

Question 5

Is there a charge to attend?

Accepted Answer

No, the webinars are free for schools and academies to attend.

Question 6

How do I join the webinar on the day?

Accepted Answer

Upon booking onto the webinar, you'll receive an email invite to accept. If you use Outlook, the event will automatically be added to your calendar, and hovering over it will show a 'Join' option. A Teams link to the call will also be sent on the day as a reminder.

Question 7

What if I can no longer attend?

Accepted Answer

If you can no longer attend a session, please let us know as soon as possible. There may be alternative dates  on offer which may be more suitable. Details of these can be found on the ESPO Food Team's Eventbrite page. For any queries, please contact food@espo.org.

Question 8

Can other schools join me?

Accepted Answer

Yes, other schools can join when you attend the webinar, particularly if you're part of a MAT or a cluster who will be tendering together. We only ask that you provide the details of each school and its requirements so we can adapt the webinar accordingly. Please contact us at food@espo.org.

Question 9

How can I find out more about the framework?

Accepted Answer

For more information, please visit the framework's webpage on the ESPO website: https://www.espo.org/frameworks/food-catering/catering-services-704-22.html. 
Documents can be found under the 'Get Started' section. Select 'Get Help' for further support.

Question 10

Can I use an AI notetaker during the webinar?

Accepted Answer

If you would like to use a notetaker when attending the webinar, we kindly ask that you contact food@espo.org and await approval from the team.

ESPO Catering Services Webinar Part 1 (Framework 704)