For some of our team, many working days begin not in the office but on the road. Travelling between kitchens across the country, Margarita, Vanessa and Kay spend much of their time visiting sites and meeting kitchen teams.
Days on the road often begin early, particularly when travel is involved. Margarita says her mornings usually start between 7am and 8am, depending on how far she needs to travel.
“First thing I do is check my schedule, emails and plan my route so I can make the most of the day.”
With multiple visits sometimes planned across different locations, a quick review of the day’s schedule helps ensure everything runs smoothly before setting off to the first location.
Once on site, the first step is usually meeting the chef, catering manager or site contact before walking through the kitchen and surrounding areas. Vanessa explains that the process often starts before she even walks through the door.
“On arrival I’m already looking at the building from outside, identifying where the ductwork and kitchen are likely to be.”
These visits help the team understand how the kitchen operates, identify ventilation routes and gather the information needed to prepare a clear specification for the work ahead.
While the time spent on site is important, much of the work that shapes the final result happens behind the scenes. Margarita says careful planning plays a key role in ensuring the work is carried out safely and effectively.
“A well-prepared specification ensures the team knows exactly what needs to be done and how to do it safely.”
Attention to detail during these visits can also mean tracing ventilation routes through complex buildings or identifying parts of the system that are not immediately visible. Kay recalls one recent visit where the route of the ductwork was not fully known by the site team.
“We had to work out where it went through the building and eventually found it. That meant we could plan the work properly.”
For the team, moments like this are often a sign that the visit has been worthwhile. A good visit is one where all the necessary information has been gathered and the client feels confident about the next steps.
“When the chef feels confident about the plan and the service we’ll deliver,” says Margarita.
Travelling between multiple sites means every day brings different challenges. Traffic delays, busy kitchens and complex building layouts can all affect the schedule. As Vanessa puts it, sometimes the day simply “doesn’t go to plan”, which is why flexibility and clear communication with clients are essential.
Spending so much of the day travelling between sites means a few essentials always come along for the journey. Margarita keeps her notebook and phone close by so she can capture everything during a visit. Vanessa never leaves without a torch and a Stanley cup of tea, while Kay makes sure she has water and a protein bar to keep going between appointments.
When asked to sum up a typical day on the road, the answers were remarkably similar.
Dynamic. Varied. Productive.
Or, as Margarita puts it: “People-focused. Every day is different.”