Sacrewell Farm – The William Abbot Trust
Sacrewell Farm has been run as a charity by The William Scott Abbott Trust since 1964. It is an educational charity committed to connecting people to farming and the countryside through a variety of experiences in a diverse historic landscape, and to give an insight into the trail that leads from farm to fork. The Farm offers visitors a unique blend of adventure, education, and relaxation, making it the perfect destination for a great day out.
Phase 1 Description:
Boost Consultancy was approached as the current catering offer was not adequately meeting the needs of the site or its visitors. The Trust required someone with hospitality expertise and experience to provide support and oversee the management of the contractor and develop and put in place specific KPIs and processes to ensure the contractor fulfils their contractual obligations as well as improve the overall standards of the catering provision.
Phase 2 Description:
To support the development of the longer-term catering strategy and landscape for the future and enhance the customer experience for visitors and non-visitors to the farm. To develop and lead the tender process to identify a new caterer and provide the trust with a choice of potential partners who were capable of repositioning and resetting the Food and Beverage operations and to work with the WSAT to create a destination brand that delivers quality food and drink and best-in-class customer service that people are willing to travel to.
What was delivered:
Boost Consultancy carried out a thorough review of the current café business to provide insight and guidance to support the creation of robust KPIs and processes to set the standards for the caterer and ensure the service provision and customer experience were as good as they could be, whilst the contract is in place. Boost Consultancy oversaw the implementation of the KPIS and put in place structured monthly management meetings with the caterer. As it became apparent that the incumbent caterer was not able to meet the new standards, and it was mutually agreed that they would exit the contract early.
This earlier than expected exit required Boost Consultancy to fast track the tender process, create the RFI documents and bring to the table a list of potential partners that could support WSAT in repositioning and resetting its Food and Beverage operations to create a destination brand that delivers quality food, drink, and best-in-class customer service that people are willing to travel for. Boost Consultancy worked with the Trust to shortlist these down to 2 operators who were invited to present to the WSAT board. This was all delivered within very short timeframes, the whole tender process from start to appointment was completed within a 4-week timeframe, and Boost Consultancy worked alongside the appointed partner (Bespoke Foods UK) and Sacrewell Farm team to develop a new café concept including an upgrade of the current café design, brand, and aesthetic within 2 weeks and mobilised the opening of the café in time for the busy Easter Trading.
The Farmhouse Table concept opened on the 28th of March, Boost Consultancy worked alongside the caterer and the client to manage the mobilisation project and ensure all key deadlines were met. This involved both strategic thinking as well as hands-on support with sorting out equipment, branding, operational processes, and training processes, and developing an approach for the test day.
The café has generated double the sales of the previous operator and has the potential to do even more as the menu and concept develop. The quality of the food, drink, and service experience for customers has been transformational and delivered a café that customers would be happy to visit in its own right.
I am continuing to work with Sacrewell Farm to manage the caterers to ensure they are delivering against the agreed standards and that we continue to evolve and develop the range and experience for customers. The aim is to transfer my hospitality skills and knowledge to allow Sacrewell to manage the catering contract itself in-house.
Client Feedback...
I cannot speak highly enough of the outstanding support and expertise Paula has provided throughout her consultancy work with us. From the moment Paula came on board, she brought not only a wealth of industry knowledge but also a calm, confident presence that helped guide us through some complex and critical stages of our contract management, contract award and mobilisation.
Paula became a key partner and was highly motivated at every stage of the process. Whether it was navigating tricky contract management issues, onboarding a new provider, or handling the operational challenges of mobilisation, Paula was always one step ahead, ensuring nothing was missed and everything was executed to the highest standard.
Paula’s network of industry contacts proved to be a huge asset – not only opening doors to new opportunities, but also connecting us with reliable, trusted partners who added value across multiple areas. And beyond her tenacity, professionalism and dedication, Paula offered hands-on support with branding, compliance, and staff training efforts, ensuring that all elements aligned with our vision and values.
Paula brings strategic thinking, practical know-how, and genuine partnership. She cared about our success and went above and beyond to make it happen.
If you are looking for someone who will not only consult but truly invest in your success, I wholeheartedly recommend Paula. Her contribution has been transformative, and the impact Paula has made to enhance the experience of our customers and to optimise sales and profit will be felt long after her work with us is complete.