The catering arm of Mitie, Gather & Gather, has landed its first FEHE sector contract, a long-term deal with Edinburgh College to handle student and staff catering and hospitality across four campuses. 

Edinburgh College, which has 24,000 students, has benefited from an upfront investment of £300,000 by Gather & Gather to transform the catering environments by improving the equipment, furniture and facilities in the college’s shops and food courts. 

The company will also launch a street food van, which will travel around the campuses hosting pop up street food menus from around the world, a ribs and wings menu, noodle bar and regional dishes, throughout the year.

The caterers will introduce digital technology, including menu screens, contactless payments terminals and the YoYo app to allow students to pay for their food in the most convenient and speedy way. The YoYo app allows food to be pre-ordered and paid for without the need for cash or cards.

There will also be a new visual brand identity for the college’s catering outlets, which will be consistent across all four campuses. This revamp is designed to create vibrant spaces where students can meet and collaborate.

The company has also pledged to support the college’s hospitality curriculum by providing students with extra learning opportunities, as well as access to industry events and culinary demonstrations to inspire future graduates.

Allister Richards, Managing Director, Gather & Gather, said: “We are very pleased Edinburgh College has chosen Gather & Gather to transform its catering offer and are looking forward to bringing our contemporary approach to food, service and technology to refresh the experience for students and staff across all four campuses. We’re also delighted to be supporting the Hospitality curriculum to provide learning and development opportunities.”