Glasgow Catering Company Earns Prestigious University Shield

Encore Catering has been presented with the rare accolade of the Glasgow Caledonian University "Shield" in recognition of voluntary work carried out at Sighthill community centre.

Encore, the division of Cordia of Cordia which runs GCU's catering facilities, was initially contacted by the University to advise on the design of a much-needed multi-use kitchen at the Sighthill Community One Stop Shop (SCOSS).


However, Encore made use of a surplus of spare equipment caused by recent school amalgamations to design and install a high-quality industrial kitchen to help secure the centre's future. Further support in the shape of £9,000 of cooking utensils, tableware and cutlery was kindly provided by John Lewis.

The facility, which lost community planning funding in 2008, has since been transformed into a busy meeting point and cafe facility for locals and is now providing the centre with invaluable revenue streams.


On presenting the Shield to Encore's Frank McCabe, GCU Principal, Professor Pamela Gillies, said: "The University has been supported by many businesses throughout the past year but there is one special organisation, very close to home, that deserves the upmost praise.

"That is Encore (Cordia) whose staff have been magnificent in their support to the University, excelling particularly in relation to our project at Sighthill, as well as to our Children in Need and Students Charity ball initiatives. Encore's staff are always willing to support the university in any way and in recognition of this I am delighted to present Encore (Cordia) the University's Shield. We are very proud of our Shield and do not present this lightly."

Encore provides hospitality services at a number of Glasgow's leading tourist and visitor attractions including Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, The Burrell Collection and The People's Palace and Winter Gardens.

David Melvin/ Franks McCabe said "We are absolutely delighted to receive this genuinely prestigious honour from the University with whom we enjoy a terrific relationship.

"Our staff took great satisfaction and pride from the work carried out at SCOSS and we wish everyone at the centre all the very best for the future."

Encore is a division of Cordia, the company set up in April last year to manage Glasgow City Council's direct and care services.

Created on 1 April last year, Cordia is the latest and, by some way, the largest of Glasgow City Council's arm's length external organisations (ALEO), with a staff of almost 9,000. Its Encore division employs 400 hospitality staff, chefs and managers.