Derek Wright

Catering Services Manager, Blackpool Council

Workshop 3 - Ask the education experts

Derek is an experienced Catering Service Manager, who, after spending the early years of his career as a Chef for Ascot Racecourse Sodexo Prestige and being trained at Westminster College, further progressed a Career in the Education Sector as a college lecturer before moving on to joining Blackpool Council in 2015 as an Area Manager for Blackpool Catering Services. Since that time, Derek has shown his passion for School Food, first progressing onto training and menu development manager before becoming the head of service in 2019.

Derek, alongside his team are striving to transform the service, to become a leading catering service, with a sustainable approach to health, nutrition, education, and employment.  The team’s hard work and determination paid off when, in 2021 they won the Public Sector Catering Team of the Year award, with Derek himself being shortlisted as Catering Manager of the Year in the 2022 awards ceremony.  Most recently, Derek has become co-chair of the Love British Food Education working group and represents the North West on the LACA board.