Blue Apple News
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January 2012
Blue Apple’s green credentials renewedBlue Apple’s Wokingham-based head office has had its ISO 14001 accredited status renewed for a second year. The purpose of the British Assessment Bureau’s ISO 14001 certification is to help companies be more environmentally friendly, measure their consumption and reduce waste.
Blue Apple takes very seriously its responsibility for providing its staff a safe and enjoyable place in which to work. This responsibility extends to making the wider environment safe and enjoyable (i.e. pollution-free), so the management team has invested time and energy into setting up systems and procedures to make environmentally friendly practices easy and automatic.
A big part of Blue Apple’s environmental policy is the recycling of cooking oil. By having its waste oil refined into biodiesel, Blue Apple is reducing the total amount of fossil fuels required to run the UK’s cars. By law, all diesel fuels now have to contain a minimum of 3% biodiesel and Blue Apple is contributing to this. In 2010, Blue Apple recycled a total of 2,255 litres of cooking oil, which equates to 3.9 tonnes of CO2. In 2011 this figure rose to 3,115 litres, which equates to 5.3 tonnes of CO2.
Ruston Toms, director comments, “As well as dramatically reducing our environmental impact, the concept of “reduce, re-use and recycle” delivers tangible cost savings, which we pass on to our customers.”
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Nov 2011
Blue Apple Director becomes ACE Chairman
Earlier this month Ruston Toms (one of Blue Apple’s Directors) was appointed Chairman of the Association of Catering Excellence (ACE) at an annual wine dinner on HMS Belfast.
ACE provides a networking forum for all levels of staff within the catering industry through a series of events.
Ruston (pictured) comments: "In the age of Facebook and smart phones the ACE events are a great way for people to meet in person. You can catch up with ex-colleagues and hear about what's going on in the industry.
"Over the years quite a few Blue Apple staff have been to the Ready Steady Cook challenge, the Annual Quiz or the Dragons' Den event. At the recent wine dinner Jane Greenwood (one of our Operations Managers) met Marc Vestringhe (former Chief Executive at Catering & Allied). Jane last saw Marc when she was only 18 and had just started her career! If it weren't for ACE this might never have happened — that's what makes being part of ACE so rewarding."
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August 2011
Kellie jumps for HELP for HEROES
On Friday 5th August Support Operations Manager, Kellie Wilson was strapped to the front of a professional sky-diver and was hurled out of a plane.Were the plane's engine's failing? No, she was bravely completing this stunt to raise funds for our client, HELP for HEROES.
Click the link below to see video footage of Kellie's jump:
http://videos.skydivesouthcoast.co.uk/kellie-wilsonKellie says, “It was absolutely brilliant, but I'm not doing it again! So far, I've raised just over £800, but the sponsorship link is still live and lots of people are still sponsoring me — especially now this video proves I actually did it!”
Anyone wishing to sponsor Kellie for her brave endeavour can do so here: www.bmycharity.com/kelliewilson2011
May 2011
Blue Apple wins prestigious contract after high-stakes cook offRuston Toms (Director) and the sales team are delighted to have been awarded the catering contract at the Help for Heroes Personal Recovery Centre at Tedworth House in Tidworth. Ruston says: "It’s such a great cause to be involved with — we’re over the moon. I feel all the late nights, planning and preparation that went into our ‘cook-off’ against a major competitor really paid off.”
Watch the video to see the team’s impressive performance and the response of the diners.
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May 2011
Blue Apple appears in fsm magazineRenowned food critic, Charles Campion has reviewed Blue Apple’s operation at West Mercia Police HQ, Hindlip Hall. His article will be published in May 2011 FSM (a trade title dedicated to decision makers in contract catering). Here’s an excerpt:
"It’s a much over-used cliché, but the Blue Apple operation at Hindlip really does seem like an extended family. The nature of policing means that it will never be a 9 to 5 job. Quite a lot of what the police do on our behalf can be challenging and having the right support services in place is the key to officer welfare. Certainly the Blue Apple operation succeeds because they have become a part of the headquarters operation, rather than merely a contractor."
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March 2011
Blue Apple achieves environmental certification: ISO 14001After much devising, implementing and form-filling, Blue Apple has been awarded this prestigious certification. This proves that we consistently work to minimise how our operations negatively affect the environment and helps us comply with environmental regulations. Ruston Toms, Director comments: "It was an arduous process, but it’s been incredibly rewarding. Adjusting our policies to be environmentally friendly — measuring our consumption, reducing our waste, re-using and recycling — is going to have benefits both to us and the planet. It’s fantastic to have been given this official stamp of approval."
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January 2011
Blue Apple achieves health and safety accreditationAt the beginning of 2011 we were awarded a prestigious SAFEcontractor accreditation for our exemplary health and safety standards. As well as an assurance to all our current clients and customers, this accreditation means new clients can find us on the SAFEcontractor website and know that all our policies and procedures comply with the strictest standards — this negates the need for lengthy pre-qualification questionnaires and immediately qualifies us in. We are immensely proud of this accreditation and want to extend our thanks to every member of staff for helping us achieve this.
