The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO) is launching a co-branded programme with the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) to build on previous work between the two parties.
TUCO and the SRA developed the University & College Catering Programme last year to help raise dining standards across the sector and meet the increasing student demand for ethically sourced food.
The SRA rating for colleges and universities was piloted by Plymouth University and the University of Brighton and has since attracted a further 18 universities and colleges to join the SRA in the last 12 months.
The rating follows the format the SRA has used successfully over the last five years to assess the business-wide operation of its 4,500 Member sites.
Members of TUCO will eligible for reduced SRA membership.
Mark Linehan, managing director of the SRA, said: “We believed that our programme would be well received by universities and colleges because it provides them not just with a holistic assessment of their whole operation, but also with dedicated ongoing support through our team of experts, to help them go further and do more.
“We are really pleased that TUCO has confirmed our model for its official sustainability programme, and together we are confident we can make a big impact and help the sector reach its potential.”
