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Tech Tips - Hard Water Management in Commercial Kitchens

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:41:19 GMT

Tech Tips - Hard Water Management in Commercial Kitchens

Water is the one ingredient every commercial kitchen uses constantly; in combi ovens, dishwashers, glasswashers, ice machines and coffee equipment. Yet one of the most damaging and costly issues affecting kitchen equipment is it’s hard water.

Hard water contains dissolved minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium. When water is heated, those minerals separate and form limescale. In a commercial environment where water is heated repeatedly and continuously, scale build-up can happen far faster than many operators expect.

Managing hard water properly isn’t optional it’s essential for performance, efficiency, warranty protection and long-term cost control.

What Hard Water Really Does to Your Equipment

Limescale doesn’t just look unsightly, it acts as an insulator and a blockage.Inside commercial kitchen equipment, scale:

Coats heating elements, reducing heat transfer efficiency
Blocks spray jets in dishwashers and glasswashers
Restricts water flow in solenoids and valves
Builds up in steam generators in combi ovens
Causes level sensors to misread water presence

This results in: Longer heat-up times, increased energy consumption, poor wash results, temperature instability and eventually component failure.

In combi ovens especially, scale inside the steam boiler or generator can quickly lead to error codes, overheating and expensive repairs.

Protecting New Equipment

One of the biggest misconceptions in commercial kitchens is that water treatment can be “added later.” By the time scale becomes visible, damage has often already started internally. When installing new equipment, the correct approach is:

Test the incoming water hardness.
Hardness levels vary significantly by region, even within the same town.
Specify the correct water treatment solution before commissioning.
Manufacturers often state maximum hardness levels in their installation manuals — exceeding these can invalidate warranties.
Ensure the filtration system is sized for the throughput of the machine.
An undersized filter serving a high-volume dishwasher will exhaust rapidly and provide little real protection.

Protecting equipment from day one prevents premature scaling of heating elements and internal pipework, which is much harder (and more expensive) to reverse later.

Dishwashers & Glasswashers

In ware washing equipment, hard water is often first noticed as spotting or streaking on glasses. However, the cosmetic issue is only the surface problem.

Scale inside a dishwasher can:

Block rinse arms and jets
Affect rinse temperatures
Reduce detergent effectiveness
Cause tank heating elements to overwork

Operators often compensate by increasing chemical dosing, which raises operating costs without addressing the root cause. Proper water treatment reduces the need for excessive detergent and ensures rinse temperatures remain consistent.

Combi Ovens

Combi ovens are particularly vulnerable because they rely on steam generation. When hard water is heated to produce steam, mineral deposits form rapidly inside the steam system. If unmanaged, this can lead to:

Steam output reduction
Inconsistent cooking results
Overheating elements
Pump and valve failures
Expensive descaling interventions

Regular automatic wash cycles do not remove heavy scale deposits, they are designed for grease removal, not mineral build-up. This is why manufacturers often insist on integrated filtration systems.

Filter Systems and Cartridge Solutions

Cartridge-based filtration systems such as those supplied by BRITA are widely used in commercial kitchens. These systems reduce carbonate hardness and can improve taste, protect equipment and reduce scale formation. However, a filter is only effective if:

It is correctly sized for the application
It is set to the correct bypass level for local hardness
The cartridge is replaced at the correct interval
The installation includes pressure regulation where required

A common issue is expired cartridges being left in place long after their capacity is exhausted. Once spent, the filter offers little to no scale protection, but the kitchen assumes it is still protected.

Filter management should include:

Logging installation date and capacity
Monitoring throughput
Including cartridge checks in planned maintenance visits

Maintenance and Monitoring

Even with filtration in place, regular checks remain important. Best practice includes:

Inspecting spray arms and jets for scale deposits
Checking heating elements during service visits
Reviewing error codes linked to water level or heating faults
Scheduling professional descales where required

Water treatment reduces scale formation, it does not eliminate the need for maintenance.

Regional Water Hardness Across the UK

Water hardness varies significantly across the UK due to underlying geology. Areas with chalk and limestone bedrock tend to have much harder water, while regions with granite or slate formations typically have softer supplies.

Very Hard Water Areas

South East England (London, Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire)
East of England (Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk)
Parts of the Midlands

These areas often exceed 200–300 ppm (mg/l) of calcium carbonate. In commercial kitchens, untreated water here can lead to rapid scale formation in combi ovens and ware washing equipment.

Moderately Hard Water Areas

Parts of the West Midlands
Areas of Yorkshire
Some regions in North West England

Equipment protection is still strongly recommended, particularly for steam-generating appliances.

Soft to Moderately Soft Water Areas

North West England (Lake District region)
Wales
Scotland
South West England (Cornwall, Devon)

While scale formation is slower in these regions, filtration may still be required for specific applications such as coffee machines or ice makers.

The Cost of Ignoring Hard Water

When hard water is not managed properly, kitchens often experience:

Increased energy bills (scale acts as insulation on heaters)
Frequent breakdowns and emergency callouts
Reduced wash quality
Shortened equipment lifespan
Warranty disputes where treatment was not installed

The cost of proper filtration is minor compared to replacing a steam generator, heating element or dishwasher pump prematurely. Hard water is predictable and manageable. Testing, correct equipment specification, properly sized filtration, and consistent maintenance together form a straightforward strategy that protects your investment. Managing it correctly from installation through to ongoing operation will reduce downtime, improve efficiency and extend the life of your commercial kitchen assets.

Tech Tips - Load Management in Dishwashers

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 10:07:53 GMT

Tech Tips - Load Management in Dishwashers

Educating the Customer: Load Management in Commercial Dishwashers, Glasswashers and Warewashers

In any busy kitchen or bar, the dishwashing area is the silent engine that keeps service moving. Plates, glasses and utensils flow through it nonstop, and when everything is working as it should, the whole operation feels smooth, efficient and under control. Yet one of the biggest factors affecting wash quality, hygiene, energy use and equipment life is something many operators overlook: load management .

Load management is not simply a matter of filling racks until they’re full. It’s about understanding how your machine works, how water and detergent move through the chamber, and how the choices your team makes — every cycle, every rack — can either support or sabotage performance.

Why Load Management Matters

Commercial dishwashers and glasswashers are finely engineered systems. Inside the cabinet, precise water pressures, spray patterns, temperatures and chemical dosing all work together to deliver safe, hygienic results. When items are stacked too tightly, positioned incorrectly, or crammed into unsuitable racks, the machine can’t do what it’s designed to do. Water can’t reach surfaces, spray arms can’t rotate freely, and heat distribution becomes inconsistent.

The impact is immediate: cloudy glasses, dirty plates, residues, and the frustration of having to rewash items mid-service. What’s less visible — but just as important — is the long-term effect on the machine itself. Overloading or poor loading allows food debris to accumulate in filters, jets and pumps, increasing wear and shortening component life. Energy and chemical consumption creep up as cycles become less effective. Over time, this leads to breakdowns, higher running costs and even hygiene compliance issues.

Doing the Basics Well

The foundation of good load management is surprisingly simple: leave enough space for water and heat to reach every surface. When plates are overlapped, when bowls are nested inside each other, or when glasses are pushed too close, the spray pattern becomes obstructed. The machine then has to work harder to achieve the same result — and often still can’t.

Correct rack choice makes a significant difference. Glasswashers perform best with dedicated glass racks that support each glass at the correct angle so detergent and rinse water can flow properly. Dishwashers benefit from open racks for plates and pans, and separate cutlery racks that allow items to spread naturally. Operators often treat racks as interchangeable, but using the right one is central to consistent wash quality.

And while it’s tempting during busy periods to load “just a few more items,” the time saved on one cycle is quickly lost when items come out dirty and need to go straight back in again.

The Special Case of Glasswashers

Nowhere is load management more important than behind the bar. Glasswashers are extremely sensitive to how glasses are positioned. A narrow-necked glass placed directly over a spray jet, for example, can block water flow completely. Stacking too many glasses can prevent detergent from reaching inner surfaces altogether.

The cost of poor practice isn’t just operational — it’s reputational. Customers notice cloudy glassware. They notice smudges, lipstick residue and detergent streaks. A glasswasher loaded correctly not only cleans more effectively but dries faster and leaves glasses bright and presentable, exactly as customers expect.

Handling Heavy Loads in Warewashers

In larger kitchens and production environments, warewashers often take on the toughest items — trays, gastronorms, roasting pans and utensils. These items can easily block spray arms or disrupt the wash pattern if they’re placed flat or positioned incorrectly. When a tray or pan is laid horizontally, it acts as a solid barrier, preventing water, detergent and heat from reaching the rest of the load.

Pre-rinsing or scraping heavily soiled items before loading helps reduce debris in the tank, supports consistent washing temperatures and protects pumps and filters from unnecessary strain. This simple step often makes the difference between a smooth service and one where items need to be repeatedly rewashed or the machine needs mid-shift attention.

It’s also worth addressing a common misconception: using a combi oven’s wash cycle to clean roasting pans or gastronorm trays is not a good idea . Combi ovens are engineered to clean the oven cavity — not cookware. The wash jets, spray angles and chemical dosing are designed for large flat surfaces, not for the baked-on residues found on pans. This often results in a poor clean, inconsistent results and residue left on cookware. In addition, running unnecessary wash cycles in a combi oven accelerates wear on pumps, seals and dosing systems, increases chemical consumption and uses far more water and energy than a properly loaded warewasher. In some cases, it can even leave a chemical film on pans that can transfer into food during the next cooking cycle.

The warewasher remains the right tool for the job: purpose-built to remove heavy soils, rinse effectively, disinfect items and handle cookware safely and efficiently.

Choosing the Right Equipment and Sizing It Correctly

Even perfect loading cannot compensate for a machine that is the wrong size or specification for the operation. An undersized dishwasher will always be pushed to its limit, leading to rushed cycles, overloading and excessive wear. A bar using a glasswasher that’s too small for peak demand will inevitably cut corners — double-stacking racks, running half cycles or forcing extra glasses in wherever they’ll fit.

The right equipment choice means matching the machine to the required throughput, understanding cycle times and assessing peak service patterns. For high-volume sites, a passthrough dishwasher with a prewash section may be more appropriate than several small undercounter units. In bars, choosing racks that match the glassware range avoids breakages and improves wash consistency.

A machine correctly sized for the job not only performs better but also allows staff to follow good practice without the pressure of “speed over quality.”

Maintenance: The Invisible Partner in Load Management

Load management and maintenance go hand in hand. Even the best loading habits won’t make up for blocked jets, clogged filters or scale-covered elements. Regular maintenance — daily checks by staff and scheduled servicing by professionals — keeps the wash system working as designed.

Spinning the wash arms to ensure they move freely, emptying filters before they choke the pump, and inspecting nozzles for small blockages are simple tasks that preserve performance. Preventative maintenance, such as cleaning the tank, checking dosing systems, and managing scale build-up, keeps energy and water consumption stable and prevents unexpected mid-service failures.

Proper loading reduces maintenance needs; proper maintenance protects the machine from the consequences of poor loading. They reinforce each other.

Small Changes, Big Gains

When teams understand the “why” behind load management, behaviour changes naturally. The benefits quickly become visible: cleaner, brighter results; faster turnaround; fewer breakdowns; lower operating costs; and compliance with hygiene standards. Good load management requires no specialised tools, no new equipment and no investment — just consistent habits and an understanding of how the machine works.

In a kitchen or bar where every minute counts, it’s one of the simplest and most effective improvements a team can make.

Improving industry guidance and managing regulatory action

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 08:17:35 GMT

From Boardroom to Courtroom a review.

Recently Chris Craggs MCFT Chairman had the opportunity to speak with Barbour EHS, on first hand experience with a Health and Safety prosecution, he guided them through the incident, the court process, and the broader challenges of improving industry guidance and managing regulatory action. Chris was joined by Paul Verrico, Global Head of the Environmental, Health and Safety team at Eversheds Sutherland, whose own research explores the dangers of retribution in the face of human error.

Read Chris's thoughts following the seminar:

Thankyou to all those who have commented favourably on the insights afforded by this webinar – including those who didn’t attend but commented anyway. Happy to share a few more observations, all my own:

(to those who didn’t listen in, this webinar discussed legal points – answered by Phil Crosbie – and personal experience – answered by me, relating to a multi-defendant prosecution brought under the UK Health & Safety at Work Act (HASAW) at Southwark Crown Court in April 2023, following the tragic fatality of a foodservice technician working on an appliance in a hospital in December 2017. MCFT, as the installer of the appliance, was one of the defendants.)

Applied Learnings

Landmark Definition of Scope and Remit of a Foodservice Equipment Technician

One of the few implemented learning-actions from this tragedy, against both apathy from regulatory bodies and even resistance from an industry association (on the grounds it might “cause confusion and risk undermining the regulations”), was the creation of a Code of Practice which, for the first time, sets out the remit and boundaries of the work of FoodService Equipment (FSE) technicians. Honoured to contribute, alongside fellow defendants, to the small but landmark work by ceda https://share.google/fpfqRJ3SvpYE8tSog - special thanks for Peter Kay for pulling this together and getting it live.

We now have a framework set out which can serve as the point of reference for customers, equipment manufacturers, contractors and, most of all, service companies and technicians.

(webinar attendees heard that the role and boundaries of competence of foodservice equipment technicians had not previously been set out and, specifically, the fact that most are not “qualified electricians” – a phrase which has a specific definition https://electrical.theiet.org/wiring-matters/years/2017/67-september-2017/electrical-qualifications/. There was no inference that MCFT’s technician was not trained, simply that he was not an “electrician”.)

If this might Code be now deemed Approved (an ACoP) by the regulators, that would endorse its value in a court of law. (Alternatively, dissent and an explanation would also be useful.)

Non-applied Learnings:

1. Secondary Safety Devices

As mentioned in the call, the progress we'd really like is the mandatory requirement for secondary protection; I continue to find difficult to understand the official response of the body charged with regulation of electrical installations in the UK that safety provision is adequately covered by good “workmanship” – it’s a clear misunderstanding of the purpose of secondary protection : if something has gone wrong (as inevitably must happen) with the installation, the operation, the maintenance, the environment in which this appliance is located, then, rather than death or severe injury, minimal harm is done (There has, apparently, been no recorded fatality from a circuit protected by RCD.)

To mix soapboxes, the Netherlands (no, we don’t have the same rules and regulations across the EU) have had mandatory protection for “wet areas” since the 1970s. We have mandatory RCD protection in our homes. How someone can argue that the “war zone” of a commercial kitchen would not be safer with secondary protection is beyond me.

As noted in the call, MCFT require secondary protection before all new installations.

2. Equipment Instructions (and see Machinery Directive below)

The Machinery Directive, prior to 2016, stated that manufacturers’ instructions “must be followed”, since 2016 only require they be “taken account of”. Setting aside the clear inference that the previous requirement was inappropriate, Webinar attendees heard:

A requirement that the appliance be installed by a “qualified electrician”; this was sloppy and imprecise phrasing, the manufacturer and the signatory to the Declaration of Conformity (the award-winning individual is still in the industry) would have absolutely known that 95% of FSE installations are carried out by FSE technicians, not by “qualified electricians” – I assume they implied a competent technician (although even that was not previously defined).
A clearly late addition to the manual to require installation of an RCD – when, as the declaration signatory would have known, this is not within the scope of FSE technicians.

We continue to see nonsensical translations in equipment instructions, for example requiring adherence to German codes (when contacted, the Original Equipment Manufacturers were not interested in “reprinting leaflets”, never mind all the legacy installations still at risk – I hope nothing goes wrong but will have a field day if it does.)

As noted, MCFT’s solution is to

Clearly communicate the services requirements to be provided by the customer and require signed agreement to provide same before any order is accepted.
During installation, tick each line in the manual – or cross, with explanation – and, where not within FSE techs remit, make clear that this is not included – and then take a documentary photograph of manual as a record.
Callout when key information not provided at time of sale (see Machinery Directive below).

3. HSE process

I accept that the HSE operates under financial constraints but there is patently not a mandatory requirement to learn lessons and try and prevent recurrence – potential tragedies which could be avoided.

Black Box Thinking: what were the root causes of this incident, how might similar be prevented or mitigated?

My perception is that, expediently, deeper investigation disappears with a/ obvious transgressions – bang to rights on one count - and b/ guilty pleas.

Machinery – design, instructions – no investigation, no follow up.
Service technicians – defined scope, credible training and accreditation.
Customers – awareness of responsibility to monitor contracts (see PUWER below).

4. The Machinery Directive requires

Manufacturers of machinery design out hazards.
To the extent there is residual risk, provide in-appliance mitigation (e.g. fit RCD within appliance, not request an installer provide the safety net).
If risks remain, clear signposting in manuals and on actual appliance (warning stickers).
This information (e.g. need for RCD, “must be installed by qualified electrician”) to be communicated at point of sale, not when box opened by installer on site. (In this case, the purchaser might have appointed an electrician to fit the RCD or sought an alternative solution, unnecessary additional time and expense.)

Why did this manufacturer specify requirement for RCD?

The court heard that no other Waste Disposal Unit (WDU) manufacturers required RCD protection – in fact, this same manufacturer did not require RCD protection for any of their other WDU’s.
Instructions required the WDU not to be exposed to hot water or detergent (potential damage to seal) – in a washing-up sink?
As heard on the webinar, when confronted, a proper evaluation prompted a very expensive, world-wide recall – clear confirmation that there was something intrinsically wrong with the design and manufacture of this unit which could not be retrospectively addressed.

It’s clear that there were known design vulnerabilities, recognised when the Declaration of Conformity was signed. (For those interested, I’d be happy to share details off-line on the exact design weaknesses.)

Further Observations

Inverse Burden

Paul commented on the unique Inverse Burden of Proof of the HASAW – defendants have to prove they did everything which was reasonably practicable in order to be found not-guilty.

This slam-dunk – there is ALWAYS something more which could have been done - has taken away some focus from other legislation – not least the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). This requires all work equipment to be maintained by suitably qualified personnel at appropriate intervals. In our everyday experience, this is largely ignored:

No enforcement (in foodservice, it could readily come under EHO remit).
As the result of the ease of HASAW cases, very few PUWER prosecutions (one judgement reported this year around a 2023 fall from an airport pallet lifter).

Monitoring Contractors

As mentioned during the webinar – but largely ignored since the court case – the hospital was found guilty of breaches under the HASAW and a significant factor was the absence of any contractor monitoring process. It was accepted that there had been a suitable initial assessment on selection but the argument that, because this was a specialist field of maintenance, the owners could not be expected to monitor contractors was found lacking.

Its clear that a risk-based (evaluate cadence and depth based on trade and risks) audit process is a minimum requirement. This is not something we experience, our customers spot-checking our work, - and we would that they did.

Court proceedings

During our preparation, Paul asked me how I felt about our co-defendants and I was able to answer that, whilst not collaborating, there was no animosity or resentment between us. Perhaps because, in this case, one party had pled guilty, we all felt that the matter should have stopped there. Initiates might be surprised to know there’s also a tacit agreement that fellow defendants don’t go after each other – doing the prosecution’s work for them.

Overall

I confess that, for many years, I had the unsubstantiated view that justice would prevail and that truth and lessons would out from a formal court process. Extremely naïve.

It’s a human process – beset with frailties or excellence as any other field – and down to the characters and the performance on the day. (Paul mentioned the Prosecution Barrister, a pre-eminent serious criminal case barrister – evidenced in the aggressive approach to witnesses – not for the faint-hearted.)
It’s expedient – whether the prosecution or the defendant’s – no one wants it any more complicated than necessary. And the UK court system is creaking – facilities, workload, manpower.
There is no brief to discover and address the root cause – it’s simply not on anyone’s agenda (or budget).

I’d be intrigued to know whether the examining magistrate legal system might have evinced more and led to more applied improvements.

Finally

Inquest and Civil Claim

Paul briefly mentioned the Inquest – back in 2019 – no effort to apportion blame, simply to ascertain cause of death – and yet, in the absence of a thorough review, full legal investigation, initial findings are made: where the Manufacturer eventually pleaded guilty, MCFT were blamed by the Coroner for failing to fit an RCD.

The inquest, already 2 years after the fatality, will influence the outcome of the Civil Claim – and apportionment of any financial settlement between defendants – this feels anachronistic.

Expert Witnesses and Barristers

Paul mentioned the role of expert witnesses and their impartiality – I commented on the fact that it’s probably not unusual not to have access to expert witnesses who are deeply knowledgeable about a niche industry – further compounded by having three co-defendants – and the process extending over considerable time. There was a meeting of the witnesses – to identify the matters on which they agreed – which were many – whilst still leaving lots of areas for robust debate. (As noted, commissioned by the legal team, their contact with the defendant is supposed to be at one remove – difficult when trying to brief on the nuances of a new industry…)

Another aspect which struck me as less than optimal was the convention that the defendant chooses their barrister. It may be that seasoned defendants, who have run the gamut of chambers, have their preferences, even for particular cases. To the novice, this seem arcane – and when I asked if I might speak with short-listed candidates before deciding, this was “unusual”. I am happy that, in no small part due to Paul’s short-list, we ended up with a first-class, very thorough team but it’s another example of the human frailty in a system which is, in every other respect, absolute.

HRH Royal Opening

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 08:41:22 GMT

A Royal Opening for MCFT's Technical Academy

18 ^th September was a momentous day for all at MCFT; not only did we have the pleasure of receiving an award as No 1 SME apprentice provider, we also had the honour of hosting HRH The Princess Royal to open their new training facility in Reading.

MCFT were delighted to be invited to the House of Lords, London, in the morning of 18 ^th September to be presented with their award, along with other businesses from across the UK. Andrew Richman – UK Managing Director, Samantha Marshall Davies - Head of Learning & Development, and current apprentice, Sophie Scott attended the ceremony.

In the afternoon of 18 ^th HRH The Princess Royal arrived to formally open our new Training Facility. Welcomed by Lyndsey Beard - Deputy Lieutenant of Berkshire and the MCFT Senior Team; Chris Craggs – Founder, George Roberts-Smith – Group CEO, Andrew Richman – UK Managing Director, along with MCFT’s Senior Training team; Samantha Marshall Davies - Head of Learning and Development and Colin Tomlinson - Technical Academy Manager.

Her Royal Highness began by touring the training classrooms, each with a cohort of apprentices and speaking to both trainers and trainees, The Princess Royal showed a keen appreciation of the life journey that learners are engaged on – joining with minimal experience, from a variety of jobs, undertaking a Level 3 technical apprenticeship.

Chris Craggs commented:

“One topic which drew HRH’s particular attention was the refurbishment of recovered equipment: Our Pre-loved Programme – which is equipment recovered from customers in reasonable condition, brought back to the Academy where our apprentices work to repair and refurbish the equipment before, working with Plunkett UK, passing these on to community causes – soup kitchens, sports clubs, village shops and pubs.”

Her Royal Highness then spoke with some of our trainers overseas, in Germany, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines, hearing how all territories face similar challenges to employ skilled tradesmen, not only on the technical side but with confidence in dealing with customers, working safely and efficiently.

The Princess Royal then spoke with a group of office apprentices, covering areas such as sales, finance and business administration, followed by a group undertaking varying stages of leadership development. Finally, Her Royal Highness spoke with a number of industry figures alongside members of the Learning & Development community – including the South East Apprenticeship Ambassador network.

Having spoken to more than 60 attendees during the tour of the facility, Michael Osbadeston, senior advisor at City & Guilds, read the citation conferring Fellowship of the Institute on Chris Craggs; the Princess Royal then presented Chris Craggs with the certificate.

Chris Craggs commented:

“I’d like to thank The Princess Royal and all the guests for the honour of their visit. I hope that MCFT’s journey to becoming Apprenticeship Providers might be useful for small and medium enterprises in other trade sectors; MCFT would be pleased to share the experience with all those involved in the provision and direction of adult learning, in the UK and overseas.”

Her Royal Highness was invited to unveil the plaque, recording the visit. To round off the ceremony, The Princess Royal was presented with a posy of flowers by Sue Benson, a loyal employee for over 25 years. Her Royal Highness departed, marking a true milestone in the company’s history and leaving an indelible impression on all who had the fortune to converse with her.

Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employer

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 07:42:46 GMT

UK’s Number One SME Apprenticeship Employer for 2025

“We’ve invested heavily in a national state-of-the-art training facility, quality and compliance staff, and a team of in-house technical trainers who we support in developing as educators. We see this as being an essential step in creating a sustainable and highly trained workforce for the future.”

Colin Tomlinson – MCFT Technical Academy Manager

MCFT’s apprenticeship programme extends far beyond engineering. Across the business, apprentices are building careers in business administration, leadership and management, sales, and HR. The company is committed to creating a pipeline of talent that learns by doing, combining real-world experience with tailored training.

'I receive support from multiple areas, being the instructors at the technical academy, my coach and team leader in the field, and the colleagues in the office if I ever come across and problems or need more information.'' – Current Apprentice Engineer

Find out more about apprenticeships at MCFT.

SDG Flag Day 2025

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 08:12:42 GMT

MCFT Raises the Flag for a Sustainable Future

Today, MCFT is proud to stand alongside the UN Global Compact Network UK and organisations worldwide in celebrating SDG Flag Day – a moment that marks 10 years since all 193 UN Member States came together to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

By raising the SDG Flag, we reaffirm our commitment to building a fair, inclusive, and sustainable future . These 17 global goals provide a shared vision for a better world – one where poverty is eradicated, the planet is protected, and prosperity is accessible to all.

With just five years left until 2030 , the urgency to act is greater than ever. The SDGs are more than aspirations – they are a universal call to action for governments, businesses, and communities to work hand in hand to drive meaningful change.

At MCFT , we take this responsibility seriously. Today, we pause to reflect on the progress made so far, acknowledge the challenges that remain, and commit to playing our part in accelerating the global movement towards a more sustainable future.

Visit our ESG page to find out how we’re making a difference to people, communities, and the planet

Big Comms Q3 2025

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:47:41 GMT

Bringing Our Teams Together: Highlights from MCFT Big Comms Q3

In September, we were delighted to host our UK Big Comms Q3 event, bringing together teams from across the country – North, London, South, and West.

It was a wonderful opportunity for our regional teams to connect in person, share updates, and explore fresh ways to collaborate across the business. These sessions are always a highlight, giving us the chance to strengthen relationships, exchange ideas, and align on how we continue to grow and deliver outstanding service for our clients.

It was also a great opportunity to celebrate our Service Awards. A huge congratulations goes to Stu Ford for an incredible achievement – 20 years with MCFT! Stu’s dedication, expertise, and commitment over the years are truly inspiring, and it was a privilege to recognise his contribution in front of colleagues from across the UK.

A big thank you to all our regional teams who joined, contributed their insights, and played a part in making the event such a success. Your energy and ideas are what drive us forward – helping MCFT continue to improve, innovate, and provide the best possible service.

International Day of Charity 2025

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 07:30:00 GMT

Celebrating International Day of Charity at MCFT

At MCFT, giving back is at the heart of what we do. This International Day of Charity, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the impact our team and customers have helped us make in communities across the UK. Every month, we invite our People to suggest causes that mean the most to them. By doing so, we ensure our support goes where it matters most—helping charities that are close to our hearts.

So far, we’ve proudly donated over £2,000 to incredible organisations, including:

These donations have been made possible through our 4x5 Customer Reviews initiative and our Wage Donation Scheme, showing the power of both collective effort and individual generosity.

Every customer review helps us give back . With every bit of feedback, you’re supporting charities that make a real difference in people’s lives.

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to our amazing customers and our People for making this possible. Together, we’re proving that small actions can create a big impact.

Visit our CSR page to find out more about how we support our local communities and how you can get involved.

Compliance in Every Service

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 08:00:05 GMT

How Our Technicians Keep Kitchens Safe & Operational

At MCFT , our Technicians play an important role in ensuring every kitchen we service is not only compliant but also running to peak performance. From understanding industry regulations to adhering to manufacturer specifications, our technicians are trained to spot potential risks before they become problems. Every service visit is an opportunity to safeguard your operations, protect your staff, and ensure that your kitchen remains a safe, compliant environment.

One of the key tools guiding our work is SFG20—the industry’s standard for planned maintenance specification. It ensures that every action we take is aligned with the latest compliance requirements and best practices, giving our customers peace of mind that nothing is overlooked.

In this short video, you will hear directly from Technician Iain Chapman and our Group Director of Engineering David Meacock on how SFG20 guides our everyday work and why it's so important to ensure safety within the industry.

Whether you manage a single kitchen or an entire portfolio of sites, we're here to keep your operations compliant, safe and fully operational.

Find out more about how we can add value to your site via our Kitchen Maintenance page.

National Youth Day 2025

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 10:23:51 GMT

Empowering the Next Generation of Technicians

To mark this year's National Youth Day, we spoke to our team about the industry-recognised qualifications and the skills to become a future Team Leader.

Hear from our Personal Development Lead , Amber L'Estrange, about the topics covered and experience you can gain during the apprenticeship and the opportunities to further your career at MCFT.

Thinking about starting your engineering journey? Visit our People site to find out more about life at MCFT and our Apprenticeship Programme.

MCFT ESG Report 2024

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 10:31:36 GMT

ESG Report 2024

2025 ESG Commitments

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 07:20:08 GMT

2025 ESG Commitments

Our ESG comitments are structured around the IWA 48 Framework and with reference to the UN Global Compact Sustainable Development Goals. All IWA 48 KPIs are discussed in our ESG committee and activity is commited on an annual basis.

ESG activity is monitored in all MCFT territories, however many of the targets are UK only. Our goal is to adopt recording and targets in all territories in the future.

Sam Ivey - Trainee to Team Leader

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 11:17:06 GMT

My Journey to Leadership: A Conversation with Sam Ivey

My journey with MCFT officially began in January 2018, but the story started a little earlier. I was fortunate enough to know a couple of people already working at MCFT, and I was keen to move away from office work. After speaking with them, I was encouraged to attend an assessment day — and I was lucky enough to pass and begin my career at MCFT as a trainee .

Since that day, my learning hasn’t stopped. While I completed the formal training and an apprenticeship that lasted around two and a half years (finishing just after 2020), the opportunities for development didn’t end there. MCFT consistently provides training courses, regardless of your level of experience. There’s always something new — like manufacturer training — and I recently completed the Foster training as part of that.

Today, I’m proud to say I am a Team Leade r for the South Coast Refrigeration team. My journey has taken me from trainee to improver , where I started with small, manageable tasks I felt confident doing. I progressed to an e arly Engineer , trusted to work on more complex components like compressors and evaporators under supervision. Eventually, I became a fully qualified engineer. From there, I was promoted to Deputy Team Leader , and now, I’m leading the team.

I owe a great deal to MCFT — not just for the tools and training, but for the belief they place in people who are willing to learn and grow. If you show hunger, capability, and a willingness to align with their vision, the progression is certainly there. You really can shape your own path.

Progress Beyond the Tools

Looking back on the milestones I’ve hit, it’s clear how much my perspective has shifted. In the early days, my sense of achievement came from simply understanding how the system worked and ticking boxes. Now, I measure success by watching others in the team grow and progress. My biggest achievement? Seeing people join the team, develop, and thrive.

A Day in My Life

No two days are the same. My role involves balancing the demands of customers with the needs of my team. Some days are full of call-outs; other days are quieter but involve planning, scheduling PPMs, and reviewing priorities. I still stay hands-on with the engineering side to keep my skills sharp. A big part of my job is making sure the team has everything they need and checking in to ensure they’re happy and supported.

The Qualifications Behind the Career

MCFT offers a comprehensive set of qualifications and training, starting with e-learning modules — covering asbestos, electrical safety, fire safety, hot works, first aid, ladder safety, and even cyber security. Everyone also completes a basic electrical course with an external provider, including key refrigeration safety elements like safe isolation.

Personally, I’ve completed my Hydrocarbons certification, Level 2 City & Guilds, and the IOSH Managing Safely course — which was a particularly in-depth experience. One of the best aspects is that nothing is forced. You’re never pushed beyond your limits; instead, you're supported to do things the right way and at a pace that works for you.

How It Shaped My Career

Starting from the ground up has made a huge difference. I can relate to situations at every level because I’ve been there. The support from MCFT has also been massive — and it doesn’t matter where you’re at in your journey; the opportunities are there if you want them.

Interested in kickstarting your engineering career? Visit our People site to find out more about our Apprenticeship opportunities.

National Intern Day

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 11:04:04 GMT

Supporting The Next Generation with Hands-on Experience

Today marks National Intern Day 2025, and this year, we’d like to give a special shout-out and heartfelt thank you to our Dutch interns, Joep and Janiek, who recently wrapped up their six-month placement with us. Though their time flew by, they left a lasting impact on #teamMCFT with their drive, professionalism, and fresh perspectives

Hear from Joep and Janiek on their MCFT Internship Experience:

Joep shared:

"When I first started, I had no idea what to expect. It was my first office job, and I wasn’t used to working these kinds of hours. Naturally, I felt a bit nervous and unsure. But from the moment I walked in, I was greeted with smiles and friendly faces that immediately put me at ease. The atmosphere was much more relaxed and supportive than I had imagined, and I quickly began to feel like part of the team. As the days went on, I grew more comfortable and confident in my role. I started to enjoy the rhythm of the work and the relationships I was building with my colleagues. I currently work in the service team and am responsible for overseeing the entire West region of England. This includes being the main point of contact for numerous engineers and even more customers.

What I enjoy most is the level of responsibility I’ve been trusted with—it’s both challenging and rewarding. The longer I’m here, the more enjoyable the job becomes, especially as I get to know the people I work with and build strong working relationships."

Janiek shared:

"As a second-year International Facility Management student, I was looking for an internship that offered more than just observation. I wanted real responsibility, practical challenges, and the chance to make a meaningful contribution. That’s exactly what I found during my six-month placement at MCFT, a commercial kitchen maintenance company based just outside of London.

From the very start, I was treated as part of the team. As a procurement intern, I managed supplier communication, tracked deliveries, supported engineers with parts and equipment, and helped improve van stock efficiency through data analysis. But one of the most valuable parts of the role was being trusted to handle external communication, not just with suppliers, but directly with customers.

Whether following up on repair progress, managing expectations around delays, or coordinating logistics, I regularly acted as the link between our internal teams and clients. It sharpened my professional communication skills and taught me how to stay clear, calm, and solution-focused, especially when things didn’t go to plan.

This was not a passive internship. I was encouraged to take initiative, challenge inefficiencies, and solve problems independently, all while being supported by a team that genuinely cared about my development.

Outside of work, adjusting to life in the UK brought its own learning curve. Living in a new environment encouraged me to become more independent, adaptable, and open to different ways of working and living. It challenged me in the best way, helping me grow not only as a professional, but as a person."

At MCFT, investing in future talent isn’t just a seasonal effort — it’s a core part of how we build for the future. We remain committed to supporting the next generation with opportunities that matter.

Interested in kickstarting your career with real-world experience?
Visit our People site to find out more about our Internship opportunities.

Staines RFC - MCFT PPM Service

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 07:30:00 GMT

Building Skills and Giving Back: MCFT Apprentices at Staines RFC

We are committed to giving back to the communities in which we work and live in. One of the ways we do this is by supporting local organisations that play an important role in their areas, and recently, we had the opportunity to do just that.

As part of our ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, we were proud to support Staines Rugby Football Club, a local club in need of assistance with their kitchen equipment. This project provided a great hands-on learning opportunity for our Apprentice Technicians . Under the supervision of our expert Training Team , the Apprentices carried out a full Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) service on the club's kitchen equipment .

This was an invaluable chance for our Apprentices to gain real-world experience at the same time as giving back and helping a much-loved local club to continue serving the community safely and effectively.

Thank you to our Apprentices and Training Team for your dedication and professionalism, and to Staines RFC for welcoming us onto their site - we're proud to play a small role in supporting you're great work.

If you know of a community-run business in need of support, reach out to our dedicated CSR Team to find out more.

Top SME Apprenticeship Employer 2025

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 07:00:06 GMT

MCFT - Top Apprenticeship Employer!

We are proud to announce that we have been named the number 1 SME Apprenticeship Employer for 2025! We’re honoured to be recognised by the Department for Education with this prestigious award, which reflects our dedication and commitment to addressing the current and future skills shortage in commercial catering and refrigeration engineering.

Investing in the Future of Skills and Talent

At MCFT, we believe that investing in people is the key to long-term success. That’s why we have dedicated significant resources to developing our state-of-the-art training facility, expanding our quality and compliance teams, and supporting a talented group of in-house technical trainers. These trainers are continuously developing their skills as educators, enabling us to provide an outstanding learning environment.

Our focus is simple: to create the best place for apprentices to come, learn, and thrive. By offering hands-on experience and real-world skills, we are developing world-class, reliable engineers. Our earn-and-learn approach ensures they not only gain valuable knowledge but also build rewarding, long-term careers with us.

Hear from MCFT Founder, Chris Craggs:

"Being named the number one SME employer of apprentices is a tremendous honour and reflects our commitment to tackling the current and future skills shortage in commercial catering and refrigeration engineering.

Being an employer-provider was the only clear path to solving the issues, ensuring we were providing the best place where people wanted to come and learn, giving them hands on skills and experience to be the best in the industry, and the chance to earn-and-learn, leading to a long-term career. We’ve invested heavily in a national state of the art training facility, quality and compliance staff, and a team of in-house technical trainers who we support in developing as educators.

Our apprentices—whether field-based or office-based—gain real-world, hands-on experience from day one. We’re committed to building a diverse workforce, with local teams serving local customers and targeted initiatives to increase the number of female technicians. This recognition reinforces our belief in investing in long-term talent, not just meeting the needs of today. We couldn’t be prouder of all our apprentices and the positive impact they continue to make."

Looking Ahead: Committed to Developing the Next Generation of Talent

As a top Apprenticeship Employer, we remain dedicated to delivering world-class training and career development opportunities that will shape the future of the industry.

Thank you to our incredible training team and our apprentices for their commitment and hard work.

Visit our People site to find out more about our Technical Academy and training team:

City & Guilds Visit the MCFT Technical Academy

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 14:17:58 GMT

City & Guilds Visit Highlights Excellence at MCFT Technical Academy

In July, we were proud to welcome Michael Osbaldeston and Paddy Craven FIEP from City & Guilds to the MCFT Technical Academy . It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the scale, ambition and impact of our in-house training programme.

Our Technical Academy is purpose-designed with dedicated catering and refrigeration training facilities, where real-world learning meets structured development. From practical work bays to classroom learning, our setup reflects the demands of today’s commercial engineering landscape.

At MCFT , our goal is clear: to find and train the next generation of engineers—and ensure they become the very best in the industry. With City & Guilds’ recognition and ongoing partnership, we’re not just training engineers—we’re helping to define the future standards of the industry.

Thank you to City & Guilds for taking the time to visit the Technical Academy, and a big thank you to our trainers and trainees for your continued commitment to the Academy.

Visit our People site to find out more about our training programmes and the MCFT Technical Academy.

Tijn - From Intern to MCFT Netherlands BDE

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 13:18:20 GMT

Tijn's MCFT Journey: Learning. Experience. Growth.

What was it like when you first joined MCFT?

"When I first joined MCFT UK as an intern , I had no idea what to expect. I wasn’t familiar with the commercial kitchen world, nor did I fully understand the facilities management sector. Over the course of six months , I was immersed in an international environment where I was given responsibilities, guidance, and opportunities to grow. I learned not only about the core of MCFT’s services and values, but also how a successful business operates in the facilities management sector. From day one, I was encouraged to ask questions, take initiative, and build meaningful connections across teams."

What was the most important lesson you learned during your Internship?

"One of the most important lessons I took away from my first time at MCFT was how crucial culture is in a workplace. The team was supportive, ambitious, and focused on development — not just of the business, but of the people within it. I learned how to work professionally under pressure, how to communicate with customers, and how to bring structure to complex tasks. These are skills that continue to help me today."

How did your role progress?

"After finishing my internship , I was thrilled to be offered a job at the Dutch office alongside my studies. This opportunity allowed me to apply what I had learned in the UK and build a bridge between my academic background and professional life. For the past year, I’ve been working part-time with MCFT Netherlands , gaining local market insight and helping the team establish a stronger presence in the region.

Now, I’m returning to MCFT Netherlands for a second internship — but this time with a bigger role. I’ve been given the chance to step into the position of Business Development Executive, which is an exciting next step in my journey. In this role, I’m responsible for identifying new business opportunities, building relationships with potential clients, and supporting the growth of our services in the Dutch and Belgium market. My work includes market research, client meetings, strategic planning, and helping align our operations with our international partnerships."

What made you want to return to MCFT?

"I wanted to return to MCFT because of the people, the flexibility, and the opportunities . MCFT showed that they want to invest in me so I can develop myself. They gave me a real chance to grow, and they trusted me with more responsibility when I proved I was ready."

Looking Ahead

"My goal is to help expand MCFT’s footprint in Belgium and in the south of the Netherlands by building a strong local customer base and creating long-term partnerships with clients who value quality, reliability, and proactive service. I want to contribute to making MCFT a top choice in the Dutch facilities market and to create more opportunities for young professionals like myself to start their careers with purpose."

If you would like to find out more about working at MCFT, and our available positions you can visit our People website here:

Front Page News: MCFT X Foodservice Equipment Journal

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 14:48:57 GMT

The Future of the Foodservice Industry

We are proud to announce that MCFT is on the front cover of the Foodservice Equipment Journal (FEJ) June edition!

The article feature includes an in-depth conversation with George Roberts-Smith, Group CEO of MCFT , where he shares his thoughts on the road ahead for MCFT and how our passion for "tinkering around with spanners and gas bottles" continues to support and drive the foodservice industry forward.

The Changing Landscape of Commercial Kitchen Services

As the industry evolves, several challenges and demands have become more evident:

Consistent service standards across expanding estates
Rapid technical developments in kitchen equipment
Rising customer expectations around speed, expertise, and reliability
Growing emphasis on compliance and accountability , both operationally and environmentally
Skills shortages , driven by an ageing workforce and the urgent need to attract new talent

In today’s landscape, maintenance is no longer just about fixing things—it’s a strategic necessity. As George puts it:

“If you're not buying a new car, you have to keep the old one going; if you're growing, expanding, and opening more stores, you need more technicians.”

Why Maintenance Matters More Than Ever

Modern commercial kitchens are complex, high-performance environments that demand uptime, efficiency, and compliance. Whether it's a national restaurant chain or a single-site operation, businesses can't afford downtime or inconsistent service. That's why reliable, professional, and transparent maintenance has become essential to success in the foodservice industry.

At MCFT, we continue to invest in our people, technology, and processes to meet these rising demands—and to ensure we’re always ready to support the chefs, operators, and businesses that keep the industry moving.

Twickenham RFC - CSR Kitchen Service

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 08:00:05 GMT

MCFT Apprentice Technicians at Twickenham Rugby Football Club

We’re proud to have received this great feedback from Twickenham Rugby Football Club after the servicing of their kitchen equipment . It’s been an invaluable hands-on experience for our Apprentice Technicians to apply their skills in a real working kitchen, under the guidance of MCFT Catering Trainer , Chris Pyle.

A big thank you to Twickenham RFC for giving our apprentices the opportunity to put their training into action where it matters!

Visit our People site to learn more about our Apprenticeship Programme and hear from our team about what it's like to work at MCFT.

International Women in Engineering Day 2025

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 10:31:05 GMT

Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day

On Monday 23rd June, we proudly celebrated the incredible female engineers in our industry—their dedication, innovation, and resilience continue to shape the future of engineering. Hear from one of our amazing MCFT engineers, Brooke, as she shares an inspiring message for those considering a career in this field.

In 2021, only 16.5% of engineers were women — a clear sign that there is still significant progress to be made in achieving gender balance in the industry. Despite growing awareness and efforts to encourage more women into STEM fields, engineering remains one of the least gender-diverse professions. Bridging this gap requires not only early engagement through education but also inclusive workplace cultures, visible role models, and continued support for women at every stage of their careers.

As we work toward a more inclusive future, it's essential to continue challenging stereotypes, supporting female talent, and celebrating the contributions of women in engineering - every step forward helps shape a stronger, more diverse industry for the next generation.

If you are interested in finding out more about a new career as a technician at MCFT, visit our People site today.

Global Maintenance Day 2025

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 09:10:31 GMT

Celebrating Our People Behind The Scenes

On this day, we wanted to celebrate technicians and support teams who work behind the scenes to keep our customers' commercial kitchens running worldwide.

Hear from some of our technicians about what makes an MCFT service world-class!

Why does maintenance matter?

Proper maintenance is the foundation of a well-run commercial kitchen. Here's why it’s so critical:

Extends Equipment Lifespan - Regular maintenance helps your kitchen equipment last longer, reducing the need for costly replacements .
Minimises Downtime and Disruptions - Routine servicing prevents unexpected breakdowns, keeping operations running smoothly.
Keeps Kitchens Safe and Compliant - Our teams ensure every unit meets safety standards and industry regulations.
Cuts Emergency Repair Costs - Preventive care saves money by avoiding major, unplanned repairs.
Boosts Energy Efficiency - Well-maintained equipment runs more efficiently, helping both the environment and your operations.

At MCFT, we know that proper maintenance is more than just a checklist—it’s a commitment to safety, efficiency, and reliability. And it’s all made possible by the dedication and expertise of our incredible teams.

Find out more about the MCFT standard of service here:

Aspen Pumps Donates Industry-Leading Equipment to MCFT Technical Academy

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 08:23:51 GMT

Equipping Our Trainee Technicians with the Tools to Succeed

At MCFT, we’re committed to developing the next generation of world-class engineers. A big thank you to A spen Pumps for their incredible donation of brand-new J AVAC equipment to the MCFT Technical Academy .

This industry-leading equipment ensures that our Trainee Technicians have access to the latest tools used across the refrigeration and HVAC industries, providing a hands-on learning experience that mirrors real-world scenarios.

It was also great to welcome Jason Treloar, Business Development Manager at Aspen Pumps Group, to the Academy to see firsthand how the equipment is already making a real difference to our Trainee Technicians.

Jason shared:

"It was a privilege to be invited to MCFT. I was able to get a good insight into the great work the company are doing to teach, mentor and provide opportunities to HVAC students globally. Donating Javac equipment was an easy decision to make after meeting Colin and hearing everything about MCFT and what the company stands for. I was really impressed with the growth of the organisation and how it will only continue to grow going forward.

The students are the future of HVAC, and with a demand for engineers, we feel they should be using the best standard of equipment possible. To be able to support these students with our equipment was an absolute pleasure. At Javac, we strongly believe that the students will be kitted out with a high standard of products to be able to perform their work more efficiently. Having top-quality items to perform the job will be beneficial in providing the best customer service possible.

With Javac being a well-established brand in the HVAC industry, it will only have a positive impact in what they do and how they are perceived within the HVAC community. This will allow students to grow and become confident in the work they provide to the end user. More and more opportunities will develop when they see the high standards being set by well-trained engineers in the field.

I believe a company like Aspen Pumps should always be prepared to help and provide support where possible. This will only help grow the awareness of training Academy's like MCFT. When I first joined Aspen 2 years ago, I was amazed at how big the HVAC industry was and how it felt like a close community. The youth coming through the academy's will see this early on themselves and as they say 'once you're in.... You never leave.' I now strongly believe that to be the case."

With continued support from organisations like Aspen Pumps, we’re not just training technicians—we’re investing in the future of engineering.

Visit our People site to find out more about our training and apprenticeship programmes available at MCFT.

MCFT Ireland Launch

Fri, 30 May 2025 07:28:29 GMT

MCFT Expands Into Ireland: Local Focus, Global Standards

We are happy to announce the launch of our operations in Ireland. Headquartered in County Dublin, we are proud to offer world-class food equipment services throughout Ireland - focused on providing local, reliable and transparent service to businesses throughout Ireland.

Over the last 30 years MCFT has expanded due to consistent demand for our services, throughout Europe, UK, Middle East and Asia and now Ireland.

We're excited to welcome Ruairí Garrihy to the MCFT Ireland team as our Field Service Manager, based locally in Ireland.

With over 20 years experience across the UK and Irish markets, Ruairí is committed to driving the success of MCFT Ireland by working closely with our technicians and valued customers—building strong relationships and growing our presence in the region.

Ruairí shared:

"Looking forward to bringing the MCFT experience to our Irish customers. My goal is to lead high-performing teams that deliver exceptional service and operational efficiency in the field. I'm focused on fostering strong client relationships, streamlining service processes, and driving continuous improvement to exceed performance targets."

Visit our regional Ireland page to find out more about our team and how we can add value to your business.

Mental Health Awareness Week

Mon, 19 May 2025 11:44:12 GMT

MCFT Annual Walsby Walk

To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week some of the MCFT team met up on the weekend for our annual MCFT Walsby Walk - Sonning Eye & Shiplake Circular Trail, organised by Jo Walsby.

The theme for this years Mental Health Awareness Week is all about ' community ', something we are very passionate about at MCFT . This day reminds us of the importance of staying connected, checking in with one another, and taking time out to focus on our wellbeing.

Thank you and well done to everyone who took part!

Visit our People site to find out more about what it's like to work at MCFT and the career opportunities available.

MCFT Wales Charity Golf Game

Wed, 14 May 2025 13:47:39 GMT

Supporting Local Communities

At MCFT, we believe in the importance of giving back and supporting the community. As part of this commitment our MCFT Wales team teed up at Pontypool Golf Club for a charity golf game with other local businesses to support Croesyceiliog Cricket Club to raise funds for the clubs community hub.

We are passionate about supporting local communities and this was a great opportunity for our welsh team to get together for a great cause. We're proud to be supporting Croesyceiliog RFC next season

Visit our regional page to find out more about our Wales team and the services we offer to businesses throughout the region.

Career Growth at MCFT

Tue, 06 May 2025 07:53:31 GMT

Why MCFT? Opportunities. Growth. Rewards.

At MCFT, we're proud to give our people the opportunity to further their career, work in new locations around the world and grow our business. We spoke with James Jarrott, who joined MCFT as a Graduate Assistant Operations Manager in 2021, and has now begun his global journey - working with our regional teams in �� , �� , and �� .

Tell us about your journey from when you started at MCFT to now.

I joined MCFT in September 2021 as a Graduate Assistant Operations Manager. From the outset, I had the opportunity to rotate across various departments including customer service, procurement / logistics, and scheduling. Each area gave me a broader understanding of how the business operates. In October 2023, I took a six-month sabbatical to travel across Southeast Asia and Australia – a great chance to gain new perspectives. Upon returning, I rejoined the operations team before transitioning into a new role within the sales team as a Business Development Executive in late 2024.

How has MCFT supported your career progression?

MCFT has assisted my development - I've been given real responsibility early on, with exposure to both the internal operational side of the business and customer interactions. The trust placed in me to manage my own projects and take ownership of key areas has been invaluable, supporting innovative ideas and problem solving. Rotating through different roles helped build resilience and adaptability – skills I continue to draw on as I grow in my career.

Where are you going to be working and what are the future plans?

I’ll be starting my next chapter with MCFT in Dubai. From there, I’ll move on to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and later to Manila in the Philippines. It’s an exciting international path and a great opportunity to grow personally and professionally.

What are you most looking forward to as you move from sales to a development management role overseas?

I’m really looking forward to immersing myself in different cultures and working with diverse teams. Each region brings its own unique challenges, and I’m excited to apply my problem-solving skills in new contexts. The opportunity to develop our presence in international markets while growing as a leader is something I’m genuinely excited about.

Why would you recommend MCFT?

Opportunities to progress
Fast paced learning environment
Great rewards and benefits

Interested in joining a company where you can grow, develop and travel? Reach out to our recruitment team to find out more about our available opportunities.

King's Day at MCFT

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 11:41:30 GMT

Happy Koningsdag!

Ahead of this years King's Day, we got into the spirit of the day at the MCFT UK office—celebrating alongside our colleagues at MCFT Nederland . We brought a bit of the Netherlands to the office with orange outfits, Stroopwafels, and, of course, some delicious Dutch cheese! ��

Wishing all our Dutch colleagues, industry partners, and friends a joyful and festive King’s Day!

Visit our People site to find out more about what it's like to work at MCFT and the career opportunities available.

Long-service Awards March 2025

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 08:39:03 GMT

Celebrating Employee Milestones

Our big comms meeting in March was a great chance to celebrate some of our team reaching the milestone of 5, 10 and 15 years with MCFT !

Great photos of our techs with our Field Service Manager - Matt Alderton and our CEO - George Roberts-Smith - Congratulations to Callum Eade , Peter Rybarczyk on your 5 Year anniversaries, Ryan McDonald on your 10 year anniversary and Mike Locke on your 15 year anniversary.

Thank you for your continued commitment and hard-work, here's to the next decade.

If you would like to find out more about working at MCFT, and our available positions you can visit our People website.

MCFT Netherlands - Recruitment Fair

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 11:22:47 GMT

MCFT Nederlands at Breda University's Recruitment Fair

MCFT Recruiter, Libby Gould, touched down in Amsterdam to support the MCFT Netherlands team and showcase the career opportunities available at the Breda University's recruitment fair!

The recruitment fair was a fantastic opportunity for Team MCFT to engage with students, introduce them to our business, and discuss the exciting career paths available at MCFT.

From engineering and operations to leadership roles, we are always on the lookout for individuals with drive and ambition. Beyond networking with students, the fair also allowed us to collaborate with fellow companies, sharing insights and building connections within the industry.

Exciting Plans Ahead

One of the biggest takeaways from this event? The growing interest in MCFT’s opportunities within the Netherlands ! That’s why Libby is now working on launching the very first MCFT Netherlands Assessment Day —a dedicated event designed to identify and welcome top talent into our expanding team.

Whether you’re a student exploring career options or a professional looking for a new challenge, we offer dynamic and rewarding opportunities in the UK and across the globe!

Visit our People website to find out more about the career and training opportunities available at MCFT.

Tech Tips: Impact of Dirty Condenser Coils

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 07:28:05 GMT

Keep Your Commercial Fridges Running Efficiently

At MCFT, we understand the importance of an efficient kitchen , especially when it comes to the maintenance and longevity of kitchen equipment like commercial fridges. One often-overlooked aspect of maintenance is the cleanliness of condenser coils.Condenser coils are a key component in the refrigeration system, its role is to release heat and enable the phase change of gas to a liquid, and if not properly maintained can lead to increased energy costs, noise levels and reduced cooling capacity - ultimately, putting the equipment at risk of failure.

Commercial fridges should be properly maintained to keep kitchens running smoothly - regular cleaning is essential for cooling equipment to perform at its best and meet its rated efficiency. Here's why keeping your condenser coils clean should be a priority!

How Dirty Coils Hurt Your System

As the condensing temperature increases, two major issues arise:

Reduced cooling capacity - Your cooling system has to work over time to achieve the desired cooling effect.
Increased energy consumption - Compressors need to use more power, which can drive up energy bills. In some cases, dirty coils have doubled energy costs!

Compressors are responsible for about 95% of a chiller or refrigeration system’s energy consumption, a small increase in condensing temperature can lead to massive inefficiencies. In fact, for every 1°C reduction in condensing temperature, energy efficiency improves by 2-4%.

Beyond higher energy costs, neglecting coil cleaning can cause:

Increased fan workload and noise levels
Higher risk of equipment failure and downtime
Potential high-pressure trips, leading to temperature fluctuations and even product losses
Shortened lifespan of refrigeration units

How to Properly Clean Coils

Regular cleaning is key to keeping your system running efficiently. Here’s a simple checklist for proper coil maintenance:

Check the manufacturer's cleaning instructions before starting.
Assess site conditions and safety risks - this may involve working at height.
Record discharge pressure before and after cleaning to measure improvement.
Protect sensitive components by covering them with plastic sheets.
Start with a soft brush and vacuum to remove loose debris.
Clean in the counterflow direction (opposite to airflow) to ensure dirt is removed effectively.
Avoid high-powered jets, which can damage delicate components.
Be mindful of microchannel coils - these are aluminium and should not be cleaned with harsh chemicals.
Use nitrogen in areas where water can't be used for cleaning.

Key Takeaways

Dirty coils might not seem like a big deal, but they can have a major impact on system performance, energy costs, and equipment lifespan. By incorporating regular coil cleaning into your maintenance routine, you can boost efficiency, prevent breakdowns, and extend the life of your cooling systems—all while saving money on energy bills. Proper maintenance today can prevent costly repairs and inefficiencies tomorrow, making routine coil cleaning a smart and cost-effective investment.

If you're interested in finding out more about condenser coils, and how your business can benefit from energy cost-savings on equipment? Reach out your local BDM for a free PPM quote and site survey.

Oak Tree Planting at the Heart of England Forest

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 10:56:01 GMT

Heart of England Forest - MCFT Oak Tree

We’re excited to celebrate over 14 years of partnership with the Heart of England Forest . Since 2011, we've donated £56,000 - which equates to over 16,300 trees to help the charity's mission to reverse centuries of woodland decline by creating and conserving a huge broadleaf forest.

We’re proud to announce that we’ve had the honour of planting an oak tree in our name as a 'planting partner'. Thank you to the Heart of England Forest team, it was a great opportunity to meet Andy Parson and Fran Bos and find out more about your mission. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to your journey towards a greener, more sustainable future. ��

Looking Forward

As we celebrate this milestone, we remain committed to working alongside Heart of England Forest in their mission to create and conserve a vast broadleaf forest. This is just one step in a much larger journey towards a sustainable future, and we are excited to continue making a positive impact.

Visit our ESG page to find out more about how we are making a positive impact on the environment and local communities.

MCFT Royal Warrant Holders Celebration

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 10:28:26 GMT

Royal Warrant Holders Association President's Reception

MCFT Scotland had the pleasure of attending the Royal Warrant Holders Association (RWHA) President’s Reception at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, and it was truly an evening to remember. Scotland BDM, George Dick, and Technician, Craig Hewitt, represented MCFT at this prestigious event.

We are incredibly proud to share that our Royal Warrant of Appointment to His Majesty King Charles III has been renewed! ��✨ This recognition celebrates 25 years of passion, commitment, and a customer-focused approach from our dedicated team.

We’re honoured to have supported The Royal Household for many years and are excited to keep working together for years to come.

Visit or regional page to here from our customers and find out more about our business in Scotland.

Michael Davies - City & Guilds Award

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 10:17:30 GMT

Celebrating Excellence: Michael Davies Receives City & Guilds Award

Congratulations to Michael Davies, MCFT Learning and Development Manager, for receiving the Membership of the City & Guilds of London Institute Award!

"Michael is an experienced commercial catering engineer who started his career as an apprentice. He is responsible for leading the team of trainers delivering the internal training programmes for MCFT at their state-of-the-art centre in Berkshire. MCFT are a Princess Royal Training Award Holder and invest heavily in all their people, especially apprentices, making them the leading installer and maintainer of catering equipment to many high profile clients around the world, including the Palace. MCFT attribute their commercial success to the quality of their training and the demonstrable skills of their workforce."

- The City & Guilds of London Institute

This award recognises Michael’s dedication to excellence and his innovative approach to training , which has made a lasting impact on both MCFT and the commercial catering and refrigeration industry.

As a leader in Learning and Development, Michael continues to shape the future of our workforce by driving forward-thinking training programmes at the MCFT Technical Academy - setting new benchmarks for the industry.

At MCFT, we pride ourselves on nurturing talent and fostering a culture of continuous learning. Michael’s achievement is a reflection of our shared values and our dedication to professional development. We couldn’t be prouder to have him leading our Learning and Development initiatives!

If you would like to find out more about our Technical Academy and our Teaching and Learning team, visit our People website today.

Celebrating Our Success at the National ACR & Heat Pump Awards 2025

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 10:15:26 GMT

MCFT Awarded Highly Commended Training Provider of The Year

We are thrilled to have been awarded Highly Commended in the Training Provider of the Year category at the National Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heat Pump Awards - for the second year running!

This award recognises the hard work and dedication of our MCFT Technical Academy Team and our assessment partner, Meridian RACHP Training. We are proud to support the industry by training and guiding the next generation of technicians to our world-class standards.

At the MCFT Technical Academy , we provide our trainees with hands-on experience, expert mentorship and support - helping them develop into skilled professionals who are ready to take on any challenge.

Receiving this award reinforces our belief in what we do and pushes us to continue evolving and improving our training programmes . Thank you to our amazing teachers and mentors who have made this possible.

If you would like to find out more about our Technical Academy and our Teaching and Learning team, visit our People website today.

Derek - From Hospitality Management to MCFT Equipment Consultant

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 14:34:09 GMT

Derek’s Journey: Hospitality Management to New Equipment Consultant

At MCFT, we are always looking for the next generation of talent. Many of our employees come from various career backgrounds, bringing fresh perspectives and ideas to support our growing business. We spoke with Derek, who joined us in 2024 as a New Equipment Consultant after a career in hospitality management.

Read Derek's story:

The Past

I spent over 20 Years building a successful career in the catering industry, starting as a Kitchen assistant, I worked my way up to managing high-profile catering sites, over-seeing a team of chefs and service staff.

While I enjoyed the fast-paced environment of catering, I began to feel the desire for a career that offered more stability, opportunities for growth, and a better work life balance.

Exploring new opportunities, I began researching industries and roles that aligned with my skills and interests. I was looking for a new line of work where my skills were transferable. A lot of my skills and experience included project management, customer service, problem solving and leadership.

Living and breathing catering, I was nervous to take the leap from what I knew and loved, to a different section within the industry that I was unfamiliar with. Am I going to succeed? Can I find a new career where my family life does not suffer financially? Will my skills be transferable?

Throughout networking and online research, I discovered MCFT. They specialise in the food equipment service industry. I saw online an opportunity to work in the New Equipment Sales Department.

After my initial phone call interview all my worries and trepidation subsided, I spoke with the recruitment team , sales manager and the managing director of the company. All were very approachable, and they were able to answer any questions I had regarding the role.

The Present

I have now been employed as a New Equipment Consultant within MCFT for over a year. I work Monday to Friday, weekends off and 28 days annual leave.

I have attended events and connected with professionals within the industry, I learnt quickly how much my experience with customer service and knowledge of catering equipment is a very valuable tool.

Within MCFT they have courses to help develop my skills and I am currently enrolled in an emerging leadership course. I have been inspired and motivated by so many stories of team members who have taken over some very important management roles within the industry.

Some challenges I have faced are a perceived lack of experience, Learning curve and imposter syndrome. I believe I have overcome all these obstacles; I am now looking forward to my next challenge.

The Future

Although we don’t know what the future will bring, I know I have made the right decision for myself and my family. Even though the catering industry is rewarding, I have now found my place and I looking forward to building my new career with MCFT.

Looking for a change in career? Reach out to our people team to find out more about opportunities available at MCFT.

MCFT Wales New Office Opening

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 10:11:28 GMT

Opening day of our new MCFT Wales office on Friday 28th February 2025.

Amazing to have the Wales team together to celebrate St David's Day and the opening of our brand-new MCFT Wales office in Mamhilad, Pontypool! ��

An exciting milestone, after offering our services to local businesses in Wales for many years! We are proud to keep commercial kitchens running across Wales via our dependable, locally based engineers.

If you’d like to find out how our world-class PPM service can add value to your estate, click the button below to get in touch with our Wales team today!

Group photo of the MCFT Wales engineers eating Welsh Cakes, courtesy of Mrs Tilley - in celebration of St David's Day - �� Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! ��

Visit or regional page to here from our customers and find out more about our business in Wales.

2025 National Apprenticeship Week

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 11:01:29 GMT

National Apprenticeship Week 2025: Celebrating 'Skills for Life'

To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, we got our apprentices, both office and field, together for a relaxed catch-up lunch with some sandwiches and snacks. It was amazing to hear about their journey so far, and the skills they have gained that have not only helped them in their careers but also in their day to day lives.

This years theme of 'Skills for Life' aligns with our focus of providing the next generation of engineers with essential skills and hands-on experience to create world-class engineers.To fit with this years theme, our Learning and Development team put together a game inspired by charades - the aim of the game was to act out valuable life skills such as counting money, checking your vehicle's engine oil and writing an email, while other people guessed the skill.

We spoke to our Personal Development Lead, Amber, about the Apprenticeship Programme she is designing.

Amber shared:

"At our Training Academy, all apprentices take part in a 10-session Professional Behaviours Programme as part of their personal development. This programme is designed to build essential "skills for life", helping apprentices develop skills such as time management, problem-solving, resilience, emotional intelligence, and goal setting. By fostering self-awareness, accountability, and adaptability, we empower them to navigate challenges, build strong professional relationships, and continuously grow in both their careers and personal lives. These lifelong skills not only support workplace success but also enhance confidence and well-being in all aspects of life."

During the lunch we also got the chance to speak with our Business Apprentice, James to find out how his apprenticeship is going and why he chose an Apprenticeship with MCFT.

James shared:

"I chose to do an apprenticeship with MCFT as I recognised that this would be a great way to develop my knowledge and skills in business. The challenges which I have faced during work, which have put me outside of my comfort zone at times, have been critical to my development and continue to provide me with the opportunity to perform at a higher level."

We offer a variety of Apprenticeship Programmes to fit within the different areas of MCFT such as catering and refrigeration, business and finance. Our apprentices receive hands-on experience in a dynamic work environment, where every day is different, and they work towards building their portfolios to showcase their training and knowledge.

If you're interested in finding out more about our Technical Academy and Apprenticeship Programmes, visit our People website.

MCFT Valentines Day Buffet

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 14:29:49 GMT

Celebrating Valentines Day at MCFT

This year to celebrate Valentine's Day we held a buffet to bring everyone together for a heartwarming feast filled with sweet treats and savoury bites. From beautifully decorated cakes to delicious homemade snacks, everyone contributed something special to the spread.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this day.

Happy Valentine’s Day from MCFT!

Visit our People website to hear from the MCFT People.

2025 International Mentoring Day

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 14:35:55 GMT

Celebrating Our Amazing Mentors & Teachers

We spoke to Colin - Refrigeration Training Lead , and James - Apprentice Engineer, about the importance of mentorship and how it plays a key role in guiding our trainees on their journey to becoming world-class engineers.

Colin shared:

"A refrigeration trainee in the field is never alone—every challenge they face is an opportunity to learn, supported by the guidance of experienced mentors, the strength of their team, and the knowledge that every mistake is a step closer to mastery.

The invaluable role of mentorship in shaping the next generation of skilled technicians. The journey doesn’t end after the academy it's just the beginning. Through ongoing guidance, shared wisdom, and unwavering support in the field, mentors empower technicians to grow in confidence and expertise, ensuring they succeed and thrive in their careers".

James shared:

"Colin is a huge help and a great mentor, if I am struggling with certain topics he explains in simple terms and is always there when needed".

We are excited to be recruiting and training the next generation of technicians. Through hands-on training and continuous mentorship, we provide our apprentices with the 'tools' they need to become world-class engineers.

Thank you to our mentors who dedicate their time and expertise to shaping the next generation of MCFT engineers .

If you're interested in finding out more about our Technical Academy and Apprenticeship Programmes. Visit our People website today.

Tech Tips: Fryer Safety

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 11:02:15 GMT

Safe Fryer Use

Protect Your Kitchen from Fire Hazards

At MCFT we take kitchen safety seriously, especially when it comes to high-risk equipment like deep fat fryers. Unfortunately, we’ve seen firsthand the consequences of fryer-related fires, with a recent series of incidents at some of our customers' sites. These fires were preventable, and in many cases, resulted from common mistakes in fryer maintenance and use.

To help prevent further accidents, we’re sharing these important safety tips on how to reduce the risk of fryer fires. By understanding the dangers and taking steps to maintain your fryer, you can protect your kitchen, staff, and business from disaster.

Deep fat fryers are essential to many kitchens, but they also pose serious risks if not properly maintained. Poor cleaning habits, oil mishandling, and simple mistakes can quickly lead to dangerous fires. Here’s what you need to know to keep your kitchen safe.

1. The Fire Hazard of Poor Cleaning Practices

One of the most common causes of fryer fires is the build-up of grease and oil residue on and around the fryer’s burners. Over time, food particles, crumbs, and oil residue collect inside the fryer and in hard-to-reach areas, especially on heating elements or burners.

Without a strict cleaning routine, these deposits can become highly flammable. Even a small spark or heat from the burner can ignite this grease, causing a fire to spread rapidly.

How to prevent this:

Regularly clean and maintain all parts of the fryer, especially burners and heating elements.
Schedule deep cleans at least weekly, with daily surface-level cleaning to remove food debris and grease build-up.

2. Oil Spillage on Burners

Another overlooked hazard is oil spillage—when oil residue or small leaks pool onto the burners or heating elements. This can happen when oil is not properly drained or when fryer components are not correctly sealed. When oil spillage is exposed to heat, it can quickly ignite, turning into a fire that spreads beyond the fryer itself.

How to prevent this:

Ensure the fryer is regularly inspected for leaks, particularly around the drain and burner areas.
When draining oil, be cautious and ensure it’s done carefully without spilling onto hot surfaces.
Invest in high-quality gaskets and seals to reduce leaks.

3. Water in Hot Oil: A Dangerous Combination

Water and oil don’t mix, and this becomes especially dangerous when hot oil comes into contact with water. Even a small amount of water spilled into hot oil can cause the oil to splatter violently, increasing the risk of burns and fires. In extreme cases, large amounts of water can cause the oil to boil over, creating a flash fire in the kitchen.

How to prevent this:

Never pour water into the fryer or attempt to clean the fryer while oil is still hot.
Ensure all utensils, baskets, and surfaces are dry before placing them in the oil.
Be mindful of wet foods being fried—remove excess water or ice before placing in the fryer.

4. Overfilled Fryers: A Recipe for Disaster

Filling the fryer beyond its recommended oil level can result in hot oil overflowing when food is added. Not only is this a waste of oil, but the overflow can drip into heating elements or other hot surfaces, increasing the risk of fire.

How to prevent this:

Always fill the fryer with oil to the recommended level as indicated by the manufacturer.
Be cautious when adding food to avoid displacement that causes overflow.

5. Inadequate Ventilation and Airflow

Fryers generate a lot of heat, smoke, and fumes. Without proper ventilation, these fumes can accumulate and mix with grease-laden vapours, which is a recipe for a fire.

How to prevent this:

Ensure that your kitchen has proper ventilation systems in place.
Regularly clean ventilation hoods and ducts to remove grease build-up.

6. Lack of Proper Servicing

Your fryer is a complex piece of equipment that requires regular maintenance to function safely. Skipping or delaying servicing can lead to malfunctioning parts, poor performance, and a higher risk of fire hazards.

How to prevent this:

Schedule regular professional servicing to ensure all components are in proper working order.
Follow manufacturer-recommended servicing schedules for deep cleanings and inspections.

Final Thoughts: Safety First!

Taking proper care of your deep fat fryer can prevent a potentially devastating fire in your kitchen. By following these safety tips and maintaining a consistent cleaning and maintenance schedule, you can reduce risks and keep your staff and customers safe.

If you need any further advice or help with servicing your catering equipment, our team is always here to help! Stay safe, and keep frying responsibly!

If you're interested in finding out more about oil filtration, and how your business can benefit from cost-savings on oil? Reach out to our equipment sales’ team today.

MCFT 2023 ESG Report

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 09:26:12 GMT

In keeping with previous years, we are pleased to report on our ESG activities over the course of 2023. Regular readers will know that, in compiling the report, we have regard to guidelines from the Global Compact and BITC as well as ISO26000 and its 7 core subjects; we have a further change of presentation this year, as we take onboard the developing framework of ESG reporting (thankyou EcoVadis, Net Positive, Kate Raworth and Ellen McArthur); under a new title, our long-held commitment has not varied, merely grown.

Commitment Statement

"It is our intention that we have a positive impact on all our stakeholders, that we actively engage and contribute to our local communities, that we follow and help promote best practice as outlined by global authorities, that we have a positive impact on all those we touch; that observers should, with justification, say as a Company and as individuals, MCFT does the Right Thing or, to use Paul Polman’s criteria, the world should be better off because our business is in it”.

Chris Craggs - MCFT Chairman

Do you want to learn a new trade, leading to a successful long-term career?

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 14:27:00 GMT

We are looking our next cohort of trainees to join our City and Guilds Assured technical academy training programme. At MCFT you will have the opportunity to learn a new trade, leading to a successful in long-term career.

Ahead of our upcoming Trainee Assessment day, we spoke to Stuart Ford - Catering Lead at MCFT, about why someone should consider an apprenticeship at MCFT and what to expect.

Why should someone consider an apprenticeship at MCFT?

Our apprenticeships give you a great opportunity to develop yourself personally and in career terms by gaining qualifications. You can progress through the business as you develop and carve out a great career. The more you put in the more you can get out of it. We are the only company offering this in our industry.

What does a typical day look like for a trainee?

For the first 3 months you will be based out of our Technical Academy carrying out online training, practical training and exercises. Once in the field, you will have the chance to attend jobs with your allocated coach.

This will be a varied experience, where you will develop communication and scheduling skills. While training you will need to communicate with your coach to find out where you need to be and what time, also monitoring your own schedule to see what jobs are being added in for them.

Can you describe the ideal candidate?

A good positive attitude helps in any workplace or situation, a willingnes to learn, keen to ask questions, and want to help yourselves. You don't need experience in the industry or environment, but you need to be open to learning and understanding it.

What will Apprentices learn during their training?

We train our technicans to be the best trained on the market, throughout your training you will learn health and safety, basic electrical training, customer skills, situation skills and communication skills. Further into your journey, depending on your role, you will potentially be put through gas training as well.

How do you apply?

James - Intern to General Manager

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 10:45:00 GMT

Could you tell us about your journey from Intern to General Manager at MCFT?

I joined as a summer intern, thinking that it would be just that. However, I was given a lot of responsibility that summer and ultimately asked to go to Dubai with Chris, the CEO, to support the business over there whilst the management team were taking a well deserved break. Following the trip Chris offered me the opportunity to come back as a graduate after I finished university which I gladly accepted. Once back I worked in various departments including service, sales, procurement, and finance which culminated in me being the Business Development Manager for the North and the Midlands. During this time I was offered the opportunity to move out to Abu Dhabi to help expand our business in the Middle East where I worked for a year and a half before accepting a role as General Manager for the UAE. Reading back on this now it sounds like a really a fast development but there was a very supportive team in the business who helped guide me to the position I am in now which is the General Manager for the Netherlands, having opened the branch in June 2021 during COVID. Fast forward 3 years and we have a team of 15 people covering the Benelux and we are opening in Germany later on this year!

Why did you decide to continue your career journey with MCFT after your internship?

I had worked quite closely with George and Adam who had both joined the business in similar ways, Adam as an intern and George as a graduate, and seen the success that they had in moving to the UAE and Qatar respectively to expand MCFT globally. This really excited me and I felt that if I worked hard and performed then I would be able to take the same opportunities which has worked out that way.

How has MCFT supported your career progression?

I was exposed to senior management quite early in my career which gave me a really great insight into how different challenges that you come across in business can and should be dealt with. Coupling this with the numerous courses, seminars and presentations that I have been able to attend because of MCFT has really support me in all of the roles I have had.

What advice would you give other interns starting their journey with MCFT?

Get stuck in, ask questions and be curious. As I am sure others will say, there are plenty of opportunities in this company for those who are willing, and prepared to put the work in – I have gone from Maidenhead – Abu Dhabi – Netherlands, so really, anything is possible.

I think it is so important now that you get experience as early as you can with so many people having degrees and certificates these days. Working in a business is really different from being taught about business so having the experience of an internship can really highlight you as a candidate when we are making selections for new hires.

If you would like to find out more about working at MCFT, and our availibale positions you can visit our People website here: https://people.mcft.com/

Terence - from MCFT Intern to COO at Orca Service Technologies

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 06:57:00 GMT

Could you tell us about your journey from intern at MCFT to your role of COO at ORCA?

I joined MCFT in 2016 as an intern while in my third year studying International Facilities Management at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen. The business was in a completely different state at the time. The gulf businesses had just started and MCFT hadn't expanded to Europe or the far east yet. It was an exciting time to join the team: I learned a lot about Sales, Operations and Finance in a practical way. I was also responsible for completing research into expansion to the Netherlands. When I graduated, I joined the graduate programme, which eventually led me to a permanent position as Business Improvement Manager within the IT team. After a few years, we split the IT team into a standalone organisation, with the aim to sell our products beyond the boundaries of MCFT. This is how I ended up at ORCA Service Technologies. What a fantastic journey it has been, and we are just starting!

Why did you decide to continue your career journey with MCFT after your internship?

I enjoyed the responsibilities I got from day 1 at MCFT. It is hard work, but work hard - play hard. I have had opportunities to meet wonderful people and travel to our offices in the Middle East. We do not accept mediocre results and there is never a dull moment here.

How has MCFT supported your career progression?

MCFT have always invested in my career progression. Whether it was a Level 7 Business Leadership Course, Agile SCRUM certifications or other continued development. I have had significant opportunities to learn the skills needed to excel in my discipline.

What advice would you give other interns starting their journey with MCFT?

Internships are a useful tool to put theory into practice.Don't be fooled by this small company in Maidenhead. Working for an SME offers tremendous opportunity for growth and development. You can grow with the organisation, just show what you are capable of. Working an internship is an incredible once in a lifetime opportunity. Enjoy it while it lasts!

If you would like to find out more about working at MCFT, and our availibale positions you can visit our People website here: https://people.mcft.com/

International Women in Engineering Day

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 11:49:00 GMT

On Sunday 23rd June we are celebrating International Women in Engineering Day. We celebrated the achievements of the female technicians at MCFT and women engineers throughout the world.

The day is aimed at raising the profile of women in engineering and focus attention on the amazing career opportunities available to women in this exciting industry.

David Meacock - MCFT Group Director of Engineering commented:

"Today, we proudly join the global community in celebrating International Women in Engineering Day! At MCFT we recognize the significant gender imbalance in our industry and are committed to making a change. As a global leader in kitchen equipment maintenance, we believe in the power of diversity and the strength it brings to our teams. The industry is facing a shortage of service engineers and we see a tremendous opportunity to attract more women to join us.

In 2021, only 16.5% of engineers in the UK were women, and in the maintenance industry, this percentage is significantly lower. In the USA, only 3.5% of all industrial maintenance technicians are women (Zippia.com). We're proud to have achieved success with our in-house training academy, with a 11% female intake in the last 5 months. However, we acknowledge that we still have a long way to go. That's why we actively recruit and train talented women through our training academy. We are dedicated to providing opportunities for women to excel in engineering and maintenance roles.

Join us in celebrating the incredible women engineers who are breaking barriers and making a difference every day. Let's continue to inspire and support the next generation of women in engineering!"

If you are interested in finding out more about a new career as a technician at MCFT you can get in contact with our recruitment team via the button below.

Cerys - UK Trainee to International Technician

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 11:11:00 GMT

We spoke to Cery's one of our Technicians on why she chose a career at MCFT, her experiences working here, and why others should consider a career as a Catering or Refrigeration Technician - You can read her story below.

I didn’t enjoy my previous job, and I knew there wasn’t any future. I knew I wouldn't get any qualifications; I'd be stuck on minimum wage and even when going above-and-beyond, I wouldn't get any sort of praise or appreciation.

When I discovered the opportunity at MCFT and got in touch with Garry - recruitment manager, I was hooked on the idea of working as a technician instantly. I saw an opportunity to get some experience in something to better my knowledge and further my skills, setting me up for a long-term career.

Being a technician is a great role for someone who likes getting hands on. The jobs aren't always pretty, but you learn from every job you go to, making diagnosing and repairs faster and easier each time.

Every experience at MCFT has been good, but I think alot of people would agree - getting the opportunity to work abroad is the best. It’s a great opportunity for a change of scenery, a great chance to travel if you haven’t had the opportunities before, also a chance to meet and work with colleagues from other countries.

I was given the opportunity to assist the team in the Netherlands, this was perfect for me! Being the only female technician there was a nice experience, being able to offer my perspective, answering people's questions on how I got into the role and how it was working at a company that genuinely doesn't discriminate against race or gender.

Being able to enhance my experiences and connections in Europe was a great, it’s an opportunity that I am very grateful for. If I get the chance to work abroad again, I will definitely take it!

Currently it's a very male dominant industry, its great seeing more females partake, hopefully this is enough to encourage other woman to consider a role as a technician.

Working somewhere that doesn't discriminate is very rare in my opinion, especially when it comes to this type of industry. Its welcoming to know I can joke and speak openly with my colleagues, without any fear of judgement or them looking down on me.

Interested in finding out more about a new role as a technician at MCFT? You can get in touch with our recruitment team today to find out more about joining team MCFT, via the button below.

Shannon - Why I chose to work at MCFT

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 11:10:00 GMT

I chose to work for MCFT because I was looking for a hands on job that required no prior experience, and provided full training - coming from an office job and seeing this was the perfect opportunity for the change I needed.

In my current job role I have been given the opportunity to work in the Netherlands, it was such a great experience and the learning curve I needed to help push myself further both in my work and my confidence. This has been one of my best moments working for MCFT, as they gave me this opportunity and trust to allow me to work over there.

MCFT is very diverse and inclusive, there's no male roles or female roles there are just job titles, it's great because I'm 'one of the engineers' which I find very liberating.

I would say it hasn't all been smooth sailing, and challenging on the road, but I have adapted and grown with the role.

I would recommend any woman to go for a trade role to help fight the stereotypes and prove trade roles aren't just for men. If you're considering an engineering style role - take the plunge! I have been doing this for over 2 years and haven't looked back and i'm still loving it.

At MCFT we are driven to find new and emerging, diverse, local talent, training them to our world-class standards. We give you the chance to learn a new trade with no previous experience needed, where you can earn-as-you-learn with loads of benefits - providing you with the skills and experience for a long term successful career.

If you're interested in a new role as a technician at MCFT, we hold assessment days throughout the year - you can find out more and apply via the button below.

MCFT - A new look with the same values.

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 16:09:19 GMT

MCFT Brand refresh: A new look with the same values.

We are excited to announce the refresh of our global brand. We have purposefully launched this iteration of our MCFT branding as a refresh rather than a rebrand, as we are proud to be the same business at our core, the brand refresh was intended to modernise the brand design and refine our values.

Our MCFT Brand

Our Vision

Our vision is to be the global choice for high-quality commercial kitchen maintenance, providing our customers with a transparent and world-class service, through our team of dependable engineers based locally around the globe.

Our Mission

Everything we do is possible thanks to our people. We are driven to find new and emerging, local talent, training them to our world-class standards. Enabling us to provide a world-leading, innovative, dependable, and transparent kitchen maintenance service to our growing community of customers across the globe.

Our Brand Principles

People

We are passionate about people, the beating heart of our business. We ensure our technicians are the best trained in the market, focused on leading the way in developing new and diverse talent.

Passion

We are never satisfied and always determined to improve. Focused on growth and development across new territories along with new solutions to enhance our world-class customer experience.

Purpose

Our aim is to keep global kitchens running smoothly, with integrity, transparency and quality of service at the heart of everything we do. We are focused on supporting local communities around the globe, and proud to be a responsible business.

Our brand is focused on the importance of our people. We are proud of our unique approach in the industry, continuing to acknowledge the need for new talent and focussing on an in-house approach of finding, training, and developing the next generation of technicians.

Our core values are still at the forefront of MCFT, the brand refresh will assist us in futureproofing for global growth, ensuring the MCFT brand is consistent in all territories and all areas of the business.

“Our brand principles of People, Passion, and Purpose have remained consistent. The brand refresh has been designed to allow us to refocus and refine our principles ensuring our customers, understand who we are, and what we aim to be”.

“The brand refresh is focused on uniting our brand values across our global regions, understanding the future goals of the business, ensuring consistency, and futureproofing the brand. Encouraging our growing community of customers across the globe to re-evaluate what they know about MCFT and for us highlight areas of the business they weren’t aware of”.

You can find out more about MCFT and view our updated brand website here: https://www.mcft.com/

Luke's MCFT Apprenticeship Journey

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 11:00:00 GMT

I’m 4 months into my “cool” apprenticeship journey at MCFT, and all I can say is that its been amazing! Everyone has been so helpful, from the technicians to the staff in the main office also not forgetting Mike and Colin at the Academy.

From day one of my journey at the Technical Academy in Theale, my team and I have learned so much; from live testing on electrics, basics of health and safety to fault finding. Needless to say our time has definitely not been boring and full of laughs along the way.

Learning the basics from Colin and Mike has equipped us with skills to go out into the field with our coaches. Being out on site, I can safely say we are all still learning, developing our problem solving and functional skills, along with developing our customer service skills - how we communicate and act in front of customers, to how to explain issues and how we resolved them. The benefits of this are definitely going to show in the long run.

My choice to take on this new venture at this point in my life has been one of the best, I would definitely encourage anyone wanting a change of pace, and day to day challenges to choose the MCFT journey.

If you would like to find out more information about our technical academy you can find out more here: https://bit.ly/48YViK0

Star of Greenwich

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 07:29:00 GMT

James from The Star Of Greenwich visited us in Maidenhead, to collect some pre-loved equipment donated by MCFT. We are really pleased to have helped and great to see it off to a new home.

When The Star reached out to us, we we're excited to help. Donating pre-loved equipment is very important to us, by repurposing and recycling, we're not just saving resources but also supporting local community causes, providing them with kit that could of cost them thousands.

"Thanks so much for your help - I can't tell you what a difference the kit will make"

James - The Star of Greenwich

The Star of Greenwich is a community owned pub in the heart of East Greenwich, set up by a group of local East Greenwich people.
The aim is for The Star of Greenwich to be a true Public House - their vision is to create the most inclusive pub in London. Taking steps to ensure that everyone involved understands that the primary purpose of the Star is not to sell drink, but to bring people together. From training of bar staff, to the food & beverage offering, to the specific community events we run, all will be designed to reduce inequality and improve community cohesion.
The community hub will exist to bring together different parts of the local community. Whilst housed in a pub, serving traditional pub food and drinks, the aim is to act as a meeting point to build relationships and support for different groups who otherwise would not interact or be looked after in central London.

Why should you consider an apprenticeship at MCFT?

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 14:51:00 GMT

MCFT is the only UK Department of Education recognised Employer-Provider of Apprenticeships in this sector, our training facility provides practical and classroom facilities for the quarterly cohorts who come to learn this rewarding, fulfilling and in-demand career as a technician.
We spoke to Colin Tomlinson, our Refrigeration Lead & Technical Trainer, about why someone should consider an apprenticeship at MCFT and what to expect.

What is the technical academy?

We officially opened our Technical Academy in February 2024, to attract, nurture and develop the next generation of technicians. The dedicated two-floor facility comprises office space for desk-based training and an area where practical training on real equipment takes place. The facility will enable trainee technicians to understand the demands of the industry and experience immersive real-world situations preparing them for the challenges they will face in the field. We currently have intakes 4 times a year, for roles based around the UK.
We have a dedicated team whose main responsibility & focus is the training and development of our people, with support from industry-leading training providers. Ranging across the whole engineering spectrum; from electric to gas, risk, H&S and water, backed with extensive on-the-job training & coaching, regular reviews, in-house soft skill programmes & OEM specialist training from all over Europe.

What does a typical day look like for a trainee?

A typical day for a trainee starts with your arrival at the technical academy for 0800 for lessons starting around 08:30. The lessons are broken into theory and practical, finishing the day around 16:00.

Can you describe the ideal candidate?

The ideal candidate would be eager, enthusiastic, willing to learn, and will have the “I want to learn” attitude, previous experience isn’t required - all experience will be gained.

What does someone learn during their training?

A trainee will learn basic electrics and health & safety to start their journey. Followed by an introduction to their field, after three months they will learn how to service and repair equipment. Once they are in the field they will start to put this into practice and sharpen their skills, they will also learn time management, customer service & complete their qualification.

How do you apply?

If you are interested in a new trade where you can earn as you learn, with loads of benefits, that leads to a long-term successful career – you can register to attend our next assessment day by emailing our recruitment team with your CV and cover letter here – recruitment@mcft.com
If you would like to find out more information about our technical academy you can visit our people website here: https://bit.ly/4bKyhwx

Windsor & Eton Football Club – Pre-loved kitchen

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 15:50:00 GMT

CSR (Corporate social responsibility) has always been a massive part of our culture at MCFT, focused on having a positive impact in communities across the UK and the globe.

As a commercial kitchen equipment maintenance specialist and supplier, dedicated to helping their community, we often come across second-hand equipment that’s too good to scrap and immediately begin looking for good causes that could do with a helping hand.
All of the pre-loved equipment we supply is in working, tested condition – some may even be near new. All have been recovered from loving homes, now lost, and in need of a new loving family.

We help local community organisations by supplying them with single pieces of pre-loved equipment to complete kitchen refits. These opportunities also provide our trainees, under supervision from our experienced technicians, further real-world experience in the removal and refitting of kitchen equipment.

Recently we have had the chance to help Windsor & Eton FC, since the clubs creation it has become a huge part of the local community, with many members of MCFT involved with the club. With supporting local communities core to our values at MCFT, when we found out the club needed a new kitchen we jumped at the chance to help.
It's fantastic to see the difference we have made to the site, in the before and after photo below:

Its great to hear such positive feedback from Craig the club secretary on how much MCFT has helped the club.
“I’ve been absolutely amazed with MCFT, they have gone well above and beyond to assist in getting our kitchen up and running, we want to say a massive thank you.”
Craig backhouse Club secretary – Windsor and Eton Football Club – Windsor and Eton youth.

Donating pre-loved equipment is so important to us, by repurposing and recycling, we're not just saving resources and supporting the circular economy, we’re providing local community organisations with kit that could of cost them thousands.
When we receive requests for our pre-loved kit, we escalate all equipment requests to our CSR committee to determine if we can meet the customer’s needs (and needs are sufficient) and will aim to respond with 3-5 working days.
If you know of a local cause in need of some pre-loved kit - please contact CSR@mcft.com .

Womens Day 2024

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 12:23:00 GMT

For Women's Day 2024 - we've aimed to share stories of women throughout the MCFT business. We asked them why they chose to work at MCFT, about their experiences and advice for others considering MCFT for their next role.
Sam, one our Refrigeration Technicians - shared her story celebrating women's day:

Who I am and how I got here.

Growing up with two older brothers had me torn between being a girly girl and not wanting to be left out of the boys club. Luckily for me I had an amazing supportive family that said you can be both. So I did and boy did it pay off.

There is no word (Can’t) only won’t!

This is a saying I heard a lot growing up, and I put it into practice every time I felt:

I CANT DO THAT
I CAN’T RIDE THAT
I CAN’T LIFT THAT
I CAN’T WORK THERE
I CAN’T COMPETE IN THAT
I CAN’T ASK FOR HELP
I CAN’T BE ME

Things that being a women hasn’t stopped me doing

Competitive rafting
Passing my mod1 and mod2 motorbike test
Joining my local engineering group
Becoming a female refrigeration technician
Building steam engines

Having a good support network helps

I love working in a company and in an environment, that supports me in my day to day working life, but also in the days where there are difficulties and problems.
I’m fortunate to live In a world that celebrates women in the work place, and encourages all my aspirations and supports my decisions. I really do love the fact more and more women are taking roles in the service industry.
Working for MCFT knowing they actively encouraging women into the industry make me feel so proud to work where I work .

So here is to all my strong women out there who support each other - Happy international women’s day!

Technical Academy Opening

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:39:00 GMT

Opening night of our Technical Academy in Theale, on Monday 12th February 2024

Thank you to Andrew Try, Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire for opening our training facility, and to everyone who attended . It was a great opportunity to show our facility and hear from some of our trainee technicians.

Our Technical Academy is a City & Guilds assured in-house training programme that captures enthusiastic, motivated people, usually with no engineering knowledge and sees them through from trainee status to a fully qualified engineer within a 24 month period.

During the Technical Academy, our trainees have a dedicated experienced coach who will provide them with the people, technical and commercial skills to successfully develop a long career with MCFT.

We are growing rapidly and to support this growth, we have a great opportunity for a number of Trainee Commercial Catering Engineers to join us each year - you can find out more about these opportunities here: technical academy

National Apprenticeship Week 2024

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:26:00 GMT

National Apprenticeship Week

For National Apprenticeship Week we got our apprentices, and some of our graduates together for a catch up with some snacks. It was great hear about their experiences, their journeys and how we can support their learning and development further - also what they are looking forward to, for their future at MCFT!

We also had the opportunity to speak at a round table event as part of national apprenticeship week with a variety of different organisations who all have significant numbers of their workforce in apprenticeship roles.

MCFT confirmed as Finalists in the 2024 ACR & Heat Pump National Awards

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 11:19:00 GMT

National Training provider category

We are very proud to announce that we have been shortlisted in the National Training Provider category at the 2024 ACR and Heat Pump Awards. This highlights our continued success at our Training Academy and a testament to the hard work both by our training team and trainees.

Bampton Valley Community Pub - Charity Work

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 15:55:51 GMT

Giving back to the community

Supporting with repairs at the Bampton Valley Community Pub

Want to learn and see more about the projects run by Plunkett Foundation then click below...

Sam Mills wins Trainee of the Year

Tue, 24 May 2022 15:05:38 GMT

MCFT Refrigeration Technician - Sam Mills - wins Trainee of the Year at the 2022 ACR News Awards

Ben Harnett (MCFT UK's Refrigeration Team Leader) & Sam Mills were suited and booted to attend the ACR News - Air Conditioning & Refrigeration 2022 Awards Show at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel.

In the month after MCFT celebrates the 3rd year of it's training academy being City & Guilds Assured, we are proud to announce that MCFT West's Refrigeration Technician Sam Mills was shortlisted and won the Trainee of the Year Award.

A product of the MCFT Training Academy - Sam Mills is testament to what can be achieved at the MCFT Trainee Academy, at the MCFT Training Academy after the 48 month programme the trainee becomes a fully qualified technician in either catering or refrigeration maintenance.

A bright future ahead of him, Sam is a vital member of MCFT West and will no doubt go onto achieve bigger and better accolades in the future at MCFT.

If you wish to read about the other award winners at the ACR News Awards 2022 then please feel free to click the link below...

UK on-boards new Technical Academy cohort

Tue, 24 May 2022 14:11:20 GMT

MCFT welcomes 14 new recruits to the Trainee Technical Academy

With the next cohort of trainee technicians due to start in September, make sure you do not miss out on this once in a life time career opportunity!

Email into our in-house recruitment team at - recruitment@mcft.com

Interested in learning more about MCFT's in-house, City & Guilds Assured Trainee Technical Academy? Then click below and hear about the academy from some of our current trainees...

Samuel's visit to the UK

Tue, 24 May 2022 13:53:43 GMT

New Business Development Executive for MCFT Nederland - Samuel Makkinga visits the UK office in March!

As MCFT Nederlands starts to grow and expand they welcome Samuel Makkinga as a Business Development Executive.

Samuel had the opportunity to visit the MCFT office in the UK to learn the tricks of the trade within the kitchen maintenance industry from the UK sales team. Acquiring some of the knowledge which has allowed MCFT to be market leaders in the UK for over 30 years.

From shadowing sales calls to learning how to use MCFT's sales software - it was an intense week to say the least!

It will be an exciting year for MCFT Nederlands as they begin to lay down roots in the Netherlands and plan to branch out to support service partners and international clients.

Alike in the UK if you are after:

- Maintenance

- Repairs

- New Equipment

- Equipment installation

Then make sure to email into - nederland@mcft.com - and let Samuel lend a helping hand!

Planting Trees and Offsetting Carbon, an MCFT way...

chris@mcft.com (Christopher Craggs) — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 17:09:24 GMT

Planting Trees, Offsetting Carbon, an MCFT way...

254 trees...

363 tonnes of carbon...

At MCFT we have been busy with our ESG initiatives, our latest work sees us work closely with the Carbon Footprint Foundation with 3 of their outstanding projects. The first of which being help to plant 254 trees in the UK.

UK Tree Planting

A carbon offsetting initiative, MCFT have made the financial pledge to the planting of 254 trees around the UK. With this programme MCFT are helping to:

Provide wildlife habitats & support biodiversity
Plant native British trees
Enhance the natural UK landscape
Offset CO2 emissions

Interested in planting trees in a region selected by yourself in the UK ? Check out how to do so here - carbonfootprint.com - UK Tree Planting Regions

Pacajai Redd+ Project

'An area the size of a football pitch disappears every second - that’s over 58 million square miles of forest lost every year.'

The second largest contributor to CO2 emissions, deforestation is making a devastating impact on the environment around the globe. MCFT have decided to support another Carbon Footprint project in order to do what we can to help offset the negative impact of deforestation.

MCFT have supported in the conservation and protection of a substantial section of the Amazon Rainforest - offsetting 254 tonnes of CO2.

Negros Island Solar Power Project

The last project that MCFT are proudly supporting is the Negros Island Solar Power Project. An initiative which generates power by using renewable solar energy and intended to provide daytime power to the grid throughout the year. All achievable through the solar panel grid on Negros Island - which is only feasible through donation.

MCFT have made our pledge towards this programme and helped in the purchase and construction of more solar panels which will offset 109 tonnes of Carbon (on estimate).

At MCFT we are proud to be carbon neutral and are always looking for exciting new projects that we can be part of.

MCFT celebrates 3 years of City & Guilds status in the UK and Middle East

chris@mcft.com (Christopher Craggs) — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 17:02:36 GMT

3 years of City & Guilds status in the UK and Middle East

Despite the restrictions of Covid, 22 technicians have completed the qualification in the UK along with 19 in the Gulf since 2018.

Chris Craggs, CEO states:

“This is not an industry with a ready pool of qualified personnel – and those who are qualified are of an older generation. If we want to continue to satisfy the growing number of customers who appreciate our service, we have to “grow our own” – and the process benefits all – customers, colleagues, coaches and the business.”

About the scheme

The ‘Assured’ scheme is a joint venture between City & Guilds and ILM that recognises world class in-house training.

MCFT was awarded ‘Assured’ status for 4 programmes including Leadership Academy (UK and Gulf region), Commercial Kitchen Technician (Gulf region), Commercial Catering Engineer (UK) and Commercial Fridge Engineer (UK).

This means the programmes have been assessed against best practice standards with 5 key components : design and delivery, planning and management, employee/learner support, quality assurance; evaluation and continuous development .

The training that the engineers receive is unparalleled in the industry ensuring an efficient and effective service for customers. All employees, from apprentices to those aspiring to senior leadership roles will be able to access at least one of the programmes, confident that they are undergoing high quality, thorough training and development that will benefit them for the rest of their career – and they’ll have a City & Guilds certificate to prove it.

What does a typical day look like for trainees?

Every day is spent in different locations with different customers – from schools and colleges to commercial kitchens at well-known sporting venues. Engineers drive their own MCFT van, shadowing a designated coach. They also have hands-on learning time at MCFT’s off-site training facility in Berkshire . A portfolio of evidenced competence is built through a structured learning programme whilst carrying out preventive maintenance, call outs and repairs on a variety of commercial catering equipment.

Sam’s story

Sam is currently going through the programme which takes 2 years to complete . With no engineering experience, he was attracted by the family feel of the company and was keen to do something hands-on rather than office based. His customer service background has proved valuable in building relationships, and he has gained recognition from some demanding customers.

About MCFT

MCFT operates throughout the UK, servicing high end commercial kitchens in business, education, sports and leisure and healthcare. It also has a growing presence in the Gulf region with offices in Dubai, Qatar and Saudi Arabia as well as the Netherlands and Belgium , servicing restaurant chains and hotels as well as businesses, education and healthcare.

MCFT turns 30!

PAR002_123@heg.com — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 15:42:22 GMT

Celebrating 30 years in business ...

Since 1992 MCFT has been maintaining and servicing kitchens. From humble roots as a fabrication shop, making counters, MCFT has developed a global presence. There is now a team of 170 engineers on the road, in five countries, working in the kitchens of businesses, schools, colleges, stately homes, hospitals, care homes and airports, backed up by an office team that provide service support.

The key to MCFT’s success has been consistently delivering quality and excellence around the world and earning a reputation as a leader in the kitchen maintenance industry.

CEO - Chris Craggs says:

“We have ridden out recessions, economic downturns, political chaos and a pandemic. We’ve done this by staying focused on what we do best - fixing fridges and ovens. Quality is paramount, and we believe it’s our approach to people that sets us apart – along with our unique, in-house, industry-focused software."

The business became IIP (Investors in People) accredited in 2006, when a strategic decision was made to focus on the development of people within the organisation. In 2016 MCFT was one of just 20 companies out of 40,000 to be awarded IIP Platinum status.

In 2016 an internal Learning and Development programme was created to formally train and develop both engineers and office staff - this received the Princess Royal Training Award in 2017 , and was recognised and assured by City & Guilds in 2018 .

Overseas expansion started after a visit to Dubai in 2014 with offices in the UAE in 2015 ; at the same time an internship programme was established with Breda and Hanze universities in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands office opened in 2021 , and a Philippines office is on the agenda for 2022 .

Accounts Manager, Catriona Hamilton celebrates a 20 year anniversary, having joined the business in 2002. She concludes:

"It’s a bit of a cliché but it’s been an incredible journey. Being part of something that has come from half dozen engineers to the international company that now is MCFT has been amazing. And it’s doesn’t stop! A lways looking forward, always striving to be better.”

A brief history...

1992 Set up a fabrication shop, buying equipment as finances allowed

1998 Engineers business starts under the name Site Catering Engineers

1998 First project for the Royal Household : Buckingham Palace Temporary Kitchen Ventilation Canopies

2002 Move to new office in St Peter’s Road, Maidenhead.

2006 Strategic realisation that people development is the key to continual and future growth. Business became IIP accredited

(Investors in people)

2008 Global crisis UK recession led to rethink of strategy and decision to focus solely on service and maintenance

2011 Awarded the Royal Warrant by appointment to HM the Queen

2015 McFarlane Telfer went international with establishment of business in United Arab Emirates

Development of international intern placement programmes with Breda and Hanze Dutch universities

2016 MCFT becomes member of CFESA, First European member to this North American association

Qatar office opened as Middle Eastern business goes from strength to strength

Learning and Development academy created in-house

IIP Platinum awarded (one of the first 20 companies out of 40,000 to be awarded this accolade)

2017 Awarded Princess Royal Training Award for Technical Academy

2017 Launch of IRIS, state of the art customer portal

2018 In-house training programmes recognised as City & Guilds Assured. The business grows to 160 personnel including 90

directly employed engineers.

2019 MCFT opens offices in Saudi Arabia – Riyadh and Jeddah – as well as a satellite team in Dammam, supporting key

equipment brands in top QSR brands and hotels. Two recruitment roadshows in the Philippines as UAE and Qatar teams

continue to grow

UK teams grow with new cohorts of trainees, a developing higher apprenticeship programme

2021 Netherlands office opens, quickly starts delivering services in Belgium

Brand Development

McFarlane Telfer has often been shortened to ‘ McFarlane’s ” or “ Telfer’s ”. When the business expanded into new territories such as the Gulf, it became clear that the name McFarlane Telfer doesn’t translate into all languages and a simple version was required. Following the format of many international brands (GSK, KPMG)...

MCFT was adopted.

The logo has evolved with the business, going through several iterations over the years. Engineers are affectionately referred to as hot or cold, depending on whether they specialise in ovens or fridges. In 2016 a new clean, crisp logo, internally known as ‘ fire and ice ’ was designed to represent the 2 sides of the company.

2016 - Fire & Ice logo

MCFT wins Pioneers of the year!

PAR002_123@heg.com — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 13:59:55 GMT

MCFT have won the Pioneers of the year and were short-listed finalists for Field Service Team of the year at the European Field Service awards 2021!

MCFT have won the Pioneers of the year and were short-listed finalists for Field Service Team of the year at the European Field Service awards 2021! Winners to the awards were announced on Wednesday evening as part of the Field Service Expo - organized by Field Service News .

‘I'm delighted that our teams' efforts over the last 2 years have been recognised: Finalists as Field Service Team of the Year and Winners of the Pioneers Award for the ground-breaking insights that our IT and BI teams have produced, vindication of hard work and a deep understanding of our industry - great people, enabled by leading-edge systems.’ - Chris Craggs

Why Pioneer of the year?

MCFT have driven innovations through making best use of the challenging business environment that the COVID pandemic created. In January 2020, MCFT employed a team of 90 technicians and trainees, in a company of nearly 150, looking after the maintenance of commercial kitchen equipment in staff restaurants, education and healthcare.

As widely reported, restaurants of all sorts were catastrophically affected by the pandemic – with a 75% drop off in revenues in April 2020. The business could have folded. Instead, with support from the furlough scheme, the hatches were battened down and a Lifeboat Crew was launched – taking inspiration from the Shackleton expedition – could a small band of shipmates keep the boat afloat until business came back and all could be rescued.

The initial crew of 14 technicians and 7 support team navigated the frightening early days of the pandemic – maintaining essential services for healthcare customers and those customers still operating and needing compliance cover.

The pandemic forced the organisation to discover new ways to working – from support teams distributed at home, to the challenges of supply and access protocols which had to be followed by the field team. Accurate continuous management of workforce efficiency, optimisation of our customer experiences and day-to-day flexing of resources became essential to the survival of the organisation.

Business Intelligence

Data quickly became the key to managing the business’ performance effectively using advanced business intelligence (BI) solutions.

With many businesses, they have enough data to drown in. The initial step is to turn that data into information which can inform and guide the business. This takes the form of reports and dashboards - looking at the detail of anything which is not quite going to plan and ensuring that individuals are empowered and resourced to deal with each category.

Phases of Data Evolution

Once reports have been established, the fundamental challenge is to structurally adapt the organisation’s culture by changing human behaviour.

Go beyond reporting: Choice Architecture

MCFT is now going beyond shaping behaviours by retrospective reporting and is actively optimising performance by making changes to the IT systems that directly affect the user experience. The objective is to make it as easy as possible for our staff and customers to do the right thing by use of nudging in the product design.

For example, the organisation used to report on the number of missed van checks by technicians in a BI report – a process that really should take place daily to ensure vehicle safety.

“Using Choice Architecture, our software now requires van checks to be completed before the technician can start their work. This ensures vehicle safety and promotes the right behaviours.” – Terence Horsman, COO ORCA Service Technologies

Focus on Value: Technology is just a tool

It may look like technology, data and reports. It works because it’s designed around human behaviour. The end goal for MCFT was never the technology alone, it was to create value for our customers by promoting the correct human behaviours. We continue to expand this approach in 2022 as we continue to digitalise, innovate and improve the service and value that we provide to our customer base.

Thomley

PAR002_123@heg.com — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 15:35:13 GMT

MCFT Support Thomley

In June 2021 MCFT were Delighted to help Thomley with a Pre-Loved Winterhalter dishwasher in A1 condition, brilliantly supported by Yvonne at Watercare who very generously helped with an appropriate softener.

Faye and the kitchen team, very happy – no more 2 hour cycle for the dishes!

The Plough, Longparish

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 15:30:58 GMT

MCFT Supporting Community Pub The Plough, Longparish

At the start of 2021 MCFT partnered with the Plunkett Trust, a scheme to support community led projects. We were approached by the Plough at Longparish to see whether we could assist with donating Kitchen Equipment.

The team at The Plough in Longparish were absolutely delighted to have received a donation of really excellent kitchen equipment from MCFT for our new trade kitchen.

In 2021 The Plough was bought and refurbished by the local community, in time to open by the end of the summer. Saving the Plough has been a labour of love and, of course, we’ve had to keep a tight rein on the budget, so to receive a donation of kitchen equipment of this quality has given us an enormous boost. We are extremely grateful.

Thanks so much to everyone at MCFT. Please do drop in for a beer if you’re ever in Longparish!

Many thanks for your very generous donations - Andy Jolliffe, Chairman, Longparish Community Pub Limited

A big thank you to CBRE who have donated us the kit we have given the equipment a second chance, saves scrapping the units.

The Plough has had its doors closed throughout Covid times with the aim to be back open and servicing again in the Summer of 2021. This great destination pub has been missed by the local Longparish before the community led group took on the project to get the doors back open.

The Plunkett Trust has allowed MCFT to partner with community based organisations and really make a difference to local communities.

I just wanted to say thank you so much for supplying the Plough with all this equipment. It is a massive help as the budget is getting tighter and tighter as we find more areas of concern inside the old building. – Mark Reynolds

I’d like to add my personal note to say how delighted and grateful we all are for your very kind and generous donations.

The equipment we have received looks like it is not only in excellent serviceable condition, and has clearly saved us a huge amount of money at a time when we’re closely watching every penny we spend; it is also clearly top of the range product as well, and so much better than anything we could have hoped to acquire if we had being buying this for our kitchen.

Just this afternoon, our chef (who starts at the end of August) paid us a visit and was amazed to see what we have received.

Thank you! - Andy Jolliffe, Chairman, Longparish Community Pub Limited

Newbury Soup Kitchen

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 21:42:29 GMT

Newbury Soup Kitchen

When we were approached to help Meryl & her team design and install a kitchen in MCFT, we got our facemasks on & made a socially distanced visit in August 2020. Fast-forward 5 months and 2 more national lockdowns and we are delighted to have completed on this kitchen. A big thank you to our team and suppliers who have helped us equip this kitchen & we look forward to the official opening of the kitchen once lockdown measures have eased!

Newbury Soup Kitchen opened in January 2017, since then a wonderful team of volunteers have worked with vulnerable clients each week. Through building caring relations, they have slowly gained clients trust and helped them to gain self-worth and confidence. Our volunteers’ range in experience and qualifications from a retired GP, trained nurses, a paramedic, Dual Diagnosis worker, psychologist, to people who are experienced in the field of homelessness and addictions. The Community Support building will be set up to help prevent loneliness and isolation along with support and education. In May 2020 we were unexpectedly offered a long term/temporary building to use as an Operations Centre. This building started as an office block and we have transformed it into a wonderful kitchen . Until life gets back to normal, we are feeding our clients on a delivery basis to encourage social distancing and self-isolation. We are providing up to 300 meals a week. Once lock down has eased we will move to a provide a takeaway service and hopefully eventually back to our sessions at the Salvation Army hall. Our dream is a permanent building to encapsulate everything but in the meantime, we are very happy with our operations centre.

After an interview on BBC Berkshire Dan and the Team at MCFT were introduced to Meryl Praill who is the founder and Operations Manager of Newbury Soup Kitchen and the charity HAVEN (West Berkshire).

"The lovely MCFT guys have supported us by donating and installing many kitchen appliances, work services and even a freezer. Without their support, generosity, and kindness we would not have been able to achieve and end up with such a wonderful space to prepare nutritious and healthy meals to people locally in food poverty. They have worked tirelessly even in lockdown to get us up and running for which, we are very grateful".

Corona Virus Update

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 15:07:00 GMT

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We are continuing to provide our services and support to all sectors during this 3rd National Lockdown.

For help and advice on all types of equipment please call us on 01628 822598

MCFT Coronavirus COVID-19 Statement

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 15:51:41 GMT

MCFT Coronavirus COVID-19 Statement March 2020
Protecting Our Colleagues and Others

MCFT Providing and Supporting Essential Services

25th March 2020

We believe there are two tests which mean that the provision of our service requires our people to continue to work, in some instances as normal:

1. Essential Services: The government guidelines list the following to be kept operational during this time of crisis: a. Healthcare, education & childcare, key public services, local and national government, food and necessary goods, public and national security, transport, utilities, communications and financial services.

The following are excluded:

Pubs, cafés, restaurants, hotels and leisure facilities whether stadium or gym – unless engaged in home deliveries.

2. Safety Critical Equipment: Whether gas or electric, potentially giving rise to immediate hazards or refrigeration with latent potential for food safety risks.

Measures we have taken to operate safely:

• Self-isolation: Has been in effect since the beginning of the crisis and will continue as needed

• Office personnel: Only a carefully selected skeleton team

• Service Desk: Phones are capable of being diverted to remote operators when required

• Operations Management: Constant involvement and direction

• Support: Essential Finance and HR representation

The remainder, including 100% of the Sales and IT functions are operating from home

Our field personnel have been regularly surveyed to ensure they are able to work to support our customers.

Resource has been mobilised accordingly.

All colleagues working from home are in daily contact and fully supported.

Operational Procedure

• New and existing works are assessed as to whether they fall (by virtue of customer or task) into essential services, appropriate response is determined, and customers are advised accordingly

• Technicians, before setting out, fill in a Self-Certification form to document where they are going and on what basis. This can be presented if stopped by enforcement officials

• Parts and equipment are routed, collected as appropriate

• Guidelines with regards to hygiene and social distancing are followed at all times

Please contact the undersigned for any further information.

Mark Brooker, Managing Director

The Temporary Shutting Down Of Your Dishwasher

24th March 2020

We understand that during these testing times, it may be difficult to know how best to look after your Catering and Refrigeration equipment if you will be closing down your kitchen operation on a temporary basis. At MCFT, we are here to support you and offer advice as best we can.

Leading kitchen equipment manufacturer, Hobart Independent, have issued the below advice with regards to your dishwasher and other warewashing equipment, that will preserve the integrity of this equipment if they are required to be shut down for a prolonged period (21 days or over).

- Ensure the machine is run on a weekly basis

- Vent any process chemicals connected to the product and, if possible, flush any chemical lines with clean water to prevent the deterioration of the supply tubes.

- Ensure the wash chambers are kept clean and free from any food debris.

- Ensure the machines are completely drained.

- Remove and clean all internal filters and spray arms.

- Salt containers must be topped up and salt debris must be flushed away to prevent cabinet corrosion.

- Ensure your product is clean internally.

- Leave doors ajar and allow adequate ventilation within the product.

- Isolate the machine from the electrical supply and water supply.

We hope that this advice is valuable to you and we will be in contact regarding further equipment maintenance in due course.

Kind Regards,

Mark Brooker, Managing Director

COVID-19 Update 10th March 2020

We are monitoring developments in the UK and internationally.

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports/

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51768274

We have held a number of detailed business continuity meetings and have scheduled twice-daily reviews to keep abreast of the situation. Actions include:

Communicating and updating directly with:

Our People

Our Customers

Our Supply Partners

We have briefed our People on sensible precautions – handwashing, coughs and sneezes and avoiding, where possible, large social gatherings and travel. For our field team, that remains a challenge – attending other people’s sites is what we do, and we have in turn requested that due care and precautions are taken.

Internally, we have postponed social events as well as a planned Field Service Community event being held at Henley Management College.

Whilst it’s impossible to predict the extent or duration of the pandemic – or the more lasting economic effect, we aim to be here when the cloud has lifted.

COVID-19 Update 9th March 2020

Protecting Our Colleagues and Others

We are fully committed to following advice from NHS and Public Health England on how best to ensure our colleagues and customers wellbeing is not put at risk due to poor practices.

We have issued statements and advice guidelines to our colleagues and are in the process of contacting our customers regarding best practice advice and to ensure all risk is minimised while attending customer sites.

Advice which we are following from Public Health England -

“A simple and effective way to protect yourself from coronavirus is by making sure you wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or a hand sanitiser if you are out and about. It’s particularly important to wash your hands once you get home or arrive at work or before you prepare or eat food.

Good hygiene is the best prevention and there are some simple steps you can take to protect you and your family by washing your hands regularly and thoroughly and if you cough, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue.

If you have recently been to one of the affected countries and are feeling unwell, you should phone the NHS 111 helpline for further advice straight away – please don’t go to your doctor. There’s lots of advice on how people can protect themselves online on the NHS website”

We are assessing the situation periodically and will update our colleagues and customers if our position changes.

Chris Craggs - CEO

Mark Brooker - Managing Director

Stop Kissing and Eat Porridge

chris@mcft.com (Christopher Craggs) — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 11:08:01 GMT

"Stop Kissing and Eat Porridge"

That was the advice almost exactly 100 years ago during the Spanish Flu Epidemic.

Social distancing and washing hands has moved us on a bit from then but it does feel just about as useful – i.e. not very.

Which, to be fair, is undoubtedly tougher for the professionals trying to deal with it, than for us, the wider public.

And as for the commercial and economic impacts…

What we can do is be pro-active about the bits we can control. Looking after each other as best we can, keeping transparent and frequent on the communications and using any down-time to best advantage - looking to be well-positioned when the upturn comes.

It’s unlikely we’re going to be in a position to be taking on full-timers in the immediate future but we’d very much like to talk to you for the day the sunlight returns.

Please forward your CV and a covering note to Georgina and her team. We’d be very pleased to have a chat in the meantime – further offers in due course.

None of which will involve kissing or porridge. You’re safe.

Chris Craggs, CEO

Business Insight At Universities

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 12:15:06 GMT

Business Insight At Reading University

Our Managing Director, Mark, visited Reading University to help some 2nd year Business Management degree students with an exercise in “Understanding Sales” as part of their Entrepreneurship Module. The students spent over an hour talking to Mark about the sales process at MCFT and getting an experienced insight into what goes on behind sales in a business and how to maximise sales with best practice.

The questions centred around the steps of the sales process, new business and lead categorisation, sales value proposition and building up customer loyalty, customer management, customer complaints, measuring sales performance and many more.

Quang, Phoebe, Ales and Antonio were very interested in the talk Mark gave and jumped at the opportunity to ask many questions and understand exactly how sales works within a business, especially an SME.

Mark: “It was a really great exercise and all 4 students were actively involved in the process. We all enjoyed the session”.

Localised Sales, Service and Support

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 09:19:45 GMT

Localised Sales, Service and Support

As a market leading supplier of commercial kitchen maintenance, we have coverage up and down the country for the service we provide. Our engineers are located across the UK to ensure the very best service and value-for-money for you and your business. We have recently increased our Sales Team, to help you with any queries you may have as a new or existing customer.

We welcome on board Patrick and David who have recently joined the MCFT Team as a Business Development Managers in our newly formed territories, with Patrick covering the South-West of England and Wales and David covering the North-East of England.

By being wide-spread and accessible, MCFT ensure localised representatives for customers at any point in time. We provide valuable sales and the opportunity for equipment supply for our customers. Continuous support means that you will always have contract support as well as 24/7 call-out cover whenever needed.

National Apprentice Week

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 10:48:21 GMT

National Apprentice Week - City and Guilds Event

For National Apprentice Week, 4 of our apprentices at MCFT, Faye, George, Finn and Chloe, were invited to attend an event in London hosted by City and Guilds. They all had to complete some pre-coursework before the event on design thinking, where they had a number of questions to help them “think outside the box” and understand how their minds work uniquely and individually.

Pictured: Mark Brooker, Faye, George, Kate Ross (IBM), Finn and Chloe.

There were activities throughout the day to help them to build and pull together their presentation for the end of the event, where they competed against other organisations including: GSK, The Co-Op, Legal and General, Medical Defence Union and Childbase Partnership. Our enthusiastic apprentices, who were the youngest group there, won the competition answering the question,

“Business needs informed leaders who are aware of the wide issues, build trust, unite people and approach challenges creatively. What can you, with your employer, do to develop and practice the skills needed to become a leader for the 21st century?”.

Their presentation on Ownership, Empowerment, Responsibility and Collaboration was well received and they have all been awarded with the IBM Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner badge!

They were well prepared for the day thanks to the in depth training they’ve been provided with as part of MCFT’s internally designed ILM Assured Leadership Academy . They had all previously completed the “Public Speaking” and “Presentation Skills” sessions with our Managing Director, Mark Brooker, as part of the programme.

George: “The day was great to be involved with, it allowed all of us to put into practice the skills which we had learnt from the Leadership Academy (LA), mainly public speaking and presentation skills. We were the youngest group there and I think having completed this training with the LA, we shone through and ultimately won the competition. We demonstrated through our presentation the skills we use at MCFT so we can become awesome leaders in the 21st century and we focused on Ownership, Empowerment, Responsibility and Collaboration."

Employers were invited to attend the evening event, where Mark and Karen, our Development Director, were able to see the Team in action.

Karen: "Having watched the guys develop over the last 18 months, I was so proud to see them all confidently deliver their idea of 21st century leadership. In fact, it was one of those proud parent moments."

January 2020 Trainee Cohort

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 09:02:40 GMT

MCFT's January 2020 Trainee Cohort!

On Monday 13th January, we gave a huge warm welcome to our new January 2020 Trainee Cohort who are starting their journeys at MCFT to become Catering or Refrigeration Technicians! These 12 will be trained and become fully qualified through our prestigious in-house City and Guilds Assured Technical Academy which is run by our Technical Leader Paul Brooker, who has been with MCFT for more than 14 years.

The programme captures enthusiastic, motivated and eager people, usually with little or no previous experience, who are wanting to start a career in Catering or Refrigeration maintenance. Our Technical Academy is designed for two years where our trainees will be provided with all of the technical, people and commercial skills needed to successfully develop a long career with MCFT.

We're looking forward to seeing our January 2020 intake excel in their new careers!

Heart of England Forest

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 14:11:49 GMT

Tree-planting at the Heart of England Forest

As part of our CSR programme at MCFT, we have set up a carbon offset programme to counter balance some of the energy used in running the business. As our engineers are on the road every day, we strive to compensate for their CO2 emissions and our carbon footprint as much as we can.

Part of this initiative has included us donating each year to the Heart of England Forest. Since 2011, MCFT has been a dedicated friend of the Heart of England Forest. The forest stretches across Warwickshire in the heart of England – from the ancient Forest of Arden, south to the edge of the Vale of Evesham. It’s an area dense in cities, towns and industry, hence creating a place to walk under shady canopies and through airy glades, away from the bustle of city life.

Our donations contribute to their tree-planting programme. We’re pleased to confirm that our 2019 donation contributed 2,111 to their tree-planting that was carried out! Over recent years, MCFT have planted 10,775 trees, making the company fully carbon neutral.

MCFT's Christmas Day

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 12:11:29 GMT

Christmas At MCFT!

On Friday 13th December, MCFT had their office Christmas Day! We all wore Christmas Jumpers and donated £2 as part of Save The Children’s Christmas Jumper day. We raised a total of £69.15 and all of the money raised will be donated to Save The Children, to improve and save children’s lives around the world.

A big well done to Charlie who won our internal competition for wearing the best Christmas jumper! Charlie charmed our MD, Mark, with his multicoloured flashing lights and took home the winning prize of a £20 Amazon voucher! We also ran a raffle on the day and together we raised £325 for two homelessness charities- Acton Homeless Concern and The Brett Foundation.

Everyone brought in a different item of food for the buffet lunch and we all got together at 1pm to celebrate and eat! We exchanged secret Santa presents and had a great time with our MCFT Team.

MCFT's Trip To Dubai!

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 15:02:16 GMT

MCFT's Trip to Dubai!

On 4th December 2019, some of our UK Team flew to Dubai for a few days of fun filled activities and to attend the Rugby 7’s! They joined our Gulf Team for their annual dinner which was a great opportunity to get the whole MCFT together and celebrate the past year. While they were out there, they joined in with quad biking, relaxing on the beach and splashing around at waterparks.

Four of our UK Team, Dani, Charlie, Zgora and Stuart, even took part in Skydiving over Dubai’s Palm Islands! Dani and Charlie were raising money for Reading FC Community Trust, as sadly, Dani lost a close friend of hers earlier in 2019 who was a huge supporter of this charity and loved playing sports, especially football.

Dani: “The Skydive was incredible! An amazing feeling and a once in a lifetime experience. We managed to raise £1000 all in memory of a good friend. Thank you to Zgora, Charlie and Stuart for doing it with me and to everyone who donated for their support!"

We’re all so impressed with their bravery and glad they had such a great time. We’re looking forward to next years trip already!

Specialist Refrigeration Division Formed

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 12:39:36 GMT

Since 1992, MCFT has been servicing commercial kitchens, looking after both ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ equipment – in basic terms, ovens and fridges.

The technicians employed by MCFT are arguably the best trained in the business, with a combination of manufacturer training, customer service skills and industry accreditations. Since 2017, the 2 year training programme for technicians has been City & Guilds assured.

Engineers have always been assigned to either refrigeration or catering so that they can focus on the specific skills needed to do the job and take the necessary qualifications. In a move to raise awareness of the specialist skills of the engineers, the Refrigeration Division has been created, headed up by Mark Hockley who has been with MCFT since 2014. Mark says:

“People often associate MCFT with ovens and cooking equipment, but there is a whole world out there of businesses reliant on fridges and freezers that we are very capable of handling. We already attract great catering trainees, and we hope that by separating out our two core skills, we will appeal to fridge technicians looking for a career, rather than simply a job. Our engineers are second to none, and we’d like to see ourselves as the employer of choice for any ambitious fridge professional.”

Refrigeration branded vans are now out on the road, featuring the ‘ice crystal’ logo to distinguish them from the ‘fire and ice’ logo that illustrates the two sides of the business.

Investors in People

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 13:37:32 GMT

2007 - 2019

As many will know, we’ve been Investors in People fans since 2007. Sadly, following the buy-out of the brand in 2016, that organisation has lost its way.

Specifically, no thought to the value we – the organisation and our people - place on our assessment to Platinum and (when previously this was the highest grade) Gold.

We will therefore not be continuing to be assessed to the IiP standard.

Sadly, there is currently no valid alternative : a rigorous, 3rd-party assessment by which we could evaluate our own efforts and inform prospective colleagues of our standards – so we welcome customers, suppliers and prospective employees who have questions to come, visit and make their own assessment of how we invest in our people.

Particularly disappointing that we lose contact with Dave Barrett who has been a much-valued, critical friend – although, opportunely, he would have been retiring anyway, thank you Dave.

We hope – and would fervently support the development of a credible, rigorous, graded evaluation of the way in which organisations manage People.

September 2019

Team MCFT Gets Behind Charitable Causes

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 09:45:37 GMT

Team MCFT gets behind charitable causes

We’re very proud of the fact that so many of our team are actively out there, raising money for good causes, all in their own time.

Here is a snapshot of just some of the fundraising activities that are going on just now including sky diving, marathons, and SAS training! See below for more about why they're doing it, together with links if you'd like to donate.

Skydiving for Luke

Dani, Zgora, Charlie, Stuart and Joe are doing a charity skydive when they go to Dubai to visit MCFT’s UAE offices in December. Dani explains:

“Sadly a very close friend of mine (Luke) passed away in July, he loved playing sports and was very successful in football. Luke supported the Reading FC community trust.

The money that we raise will go towards the charity. If you would like to donate please click on the go fund me page below. Any donation would be really appreciated, thanks!”

https://www.gofundme.com/f/skydive-in-memory-of-luke

Marathon for Shelter Cymru

Engineer Scott is based in Wales. He says:

“I'm running the Cardiff half marathon on October 6th. It's my first event in a few years and I have decided to try and raise money for Shelter Cymru (Wales for those who don't know).

They do so much work for people living rough or in very poor conditions. So many of these are children and hurts me to see this. If anyone could spare some money to help it would be much appreciated. Just click on the link below. A £1 will do, every little helps”

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/scott-barry2

Challenge series for Bloodwise

Engineer Michael has set himself 6 challenges throughout 2019 - 2020

"Late 2018 I was heartbroken by Auntie Carol’s Leukaemia diagnosis, devastating all that knew and loved her. In 2019 she lost her fight to Leukaemia after catching neutropenic sepsis. I’m doing these challenges to help raise money for Bloodwise in honour of Auntie Carol who was taken away from us far too soon. The challenges include; Rough Runner, Tough Mudder, Blenheim Palace Triathlon amongst others.

I would like to help Bloodwise to put a stop to Leukaemia as my family continues to be impacted by the devastating affects of Leukaemia, as another very special lady in mine and my wife's live is battling this horrible disease."

Rough Runner ( completed )

Triathlon ( completed )

Tough Mudder ( August 19 )

Palace to Palace Cycle ( October 19 )

SAS training camp ( December 19 )

Reading Half Marathon ( April 20 )

London to Brighton Cycle ( June 20 )

London Marathon

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Michael-Davies54

Acton Homeless Concern

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 09:39:10 GMT

Acton Homeless Concern

Our development director, Karen McDonagh, has been a trustee supporting the operation of Acton Homeless Concern since 2013. At MCFT we have taken on supporting the charity too and help wherever we can. Recently, three of our engineers, Matt, Chris and Anson helped to deliver a fridge as part of the CSR committee’s program. Amazon has been a huge help as they donated it for us to install. Acton Homeless Concern serves on average 230 hot meals a day, therefore having properly installed working equipment is essential.

“Thanks to Chris, Matt, and Anson from the MCFT family who have donated a fridge to help fight hunger on the streets of West London.”

Sarah Represents MCFT At Festival Of The Girl

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 10:56:38 GMT

Team Leader for London City, Sarah Tidey will be running 2 workshops at Festival of the Girl, an event aimed at 8-12 year old girls on Saturday 5th October.

Sarah, who is a Gas Safe engineer will be asking “What’s my line?” for participants to guess our tools of the trade and the various pieces of kit we use the tools to work on.

For the older girls (and anybody else that's interested!), she will be showing them how to wire a plug - a skill that seems to be missing amongst many.

Sarah will also talk about her role as a female engineer, why she enjoys what she does, where she is now and her aspirations to move forward!

She will be supported by Development Director, Karen McDonagh and HR & Business Support Administrator, Faye Walsby on the day. The organisers say:

"Through a range of speakers, workshops and activities Festival of The Girl will explore key topics including body positivity, physical and mental health and careers. The festival will also support carers to raise their girls in a less stereotyped way."

Cyber Essentials Plus Certification Success!

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 12:31:12 GMT

Cyber Essentials Plus certification is a high level of accreditation that shows our customers that we are keeping their data safe and taking a very professional approach to the technology which plays such a significant role in the delivery of our services.

Cyber Essentials is a simple but effective, Government backed scheme that helps organisations protect themselves against a whole range of the most common cyber attacks.

Cyber attacks come in many shapes and sizes, but the vast majority are very basic in nature, carried out by relatively unskilled individuals. They’re the digital equivalent of a thief trying your front door to see if it’s unlocked. This programme is designed to prevent these attacks.

Having held Cyber Essentials Accreditation for some time, Cyber Essentials PLUS was the next stage of our security journey which we achieved last year. It is an annual process which involves rigorous effort over many weeks, including both independent internal and external tests of our network and computers. Successful accreditation against Cyber Essential Plus provides a higher level of assurance that the organisation has a strong cyber security regime with correctly implemented controls thereby maintaining a robust defence against Internet-based attacks.

A Day At The Races

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 11:23:15 GMT

Several of the interns and members of the MCFT team enjoyed a day out at at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday with a chance to dress up and have a bit of fun with their colleagues.

Some also had a flutter on the horses. You would think that MD, Mark Brooker would know better by now, but he came away out of pocket once again!

Better luck next year Mark!

Office vs Engineers

PAR002_123@heg.com — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 12:23:51 GMT

Office vs Engineer football

Earlier this month we had our annual charity football match where the office staff take on the engineers. The office were keen to hold onto last year's title .... but did they?

Organiser Dan Sears reports:

"Thank you to everyone who participated and watched this year's charity match between the engineers and the office. This year was a success and hopefully we can keep this going.

The engineers finished on top by quite some margin, so now it is all square 1 win for the office and 1 win for the engineers.

A few training sessions might be needed for the office for next year's event."

Goodbye and hello!

PAR002_123@heg.com — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 12:29:23 GMT

Goodbye and Hello

As our band of interns grows, we have taken on another intern house, affectionately known as ‘number 10’!

The value of interns to the business is well proven as they bring fresh ideas and a different perspective, not to mention energy and enthusiasm. With students coming from overseas as well as all over the UK, we know it’s not easy to find short term accommodation. That’s why we have not just one, but two intern houses, offering a temporary home nearby the office.

This month we waved goodbye to Eline, Kinnard and James, and welcomed Arran, Adam, Edward, and Joe.

We hope they'll be very happy in their new home!

Pre-Loved Equipment Marlborough Rugby Club

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 10:49:17 GMT

MCFT are pleased to show that we offer the ability to install and recycle our pre-loved equipment. This equipment has been previously used but is too good to scrap. We are dedicated to helping our community and therefore we immediately start looking for places in need of new equipment and offer our services to install the equipment and ensure that our second-hand equipment can be useful and make a difference. If we are unable to succeed with our first choice of finding a new home for this equipment, we auction it off and donate the proceeds to our ‘charity of the month’, which is nominated by our staff.

Recently, one of our engineers Rob, installed an upright freezer and 3 door counter fridge into his own rugby club, Marlborough Rugby Club, as they were rebuilding the kitchen. Rob plays for the team in his free time and it’s great that we were able to aid him in helping his own team.

“Having the fridge at the rugby club is going to make life a lot easier and we’ll have the ability to have healthier, fresher meals as we can store the ingredients in the fridge, as opposed to frozen food which we’ve had to rely on until now.” -Rob

09642f58

Tech Tips - Hard Water Management in Commercial Kitchens

Tech Tips - Hard Water Management in Commercial Kitchens

Tech Tips - Load Management in Dishwashers

Tech Tips - Load Management in Dishwashers

Improving industry guidance and managing regulatory action

From Boardroom to Courtroom a review.

Applied Learnings

Landmark Definition of Scope and Remit of a Foodservice Equipment Technician

Non-applied Learnings:

1. Secondary Safety Devices

2. Equipment Instructions (and see Machinery Directive below)

3. HSE process

4. The Machinery Directive requires

Further Observations

Inverse Burden

Monitoring Contractors

Court proceedings

Overall

Finally

Inquest and Civil Claim

Expert Witnesses and Barristers

HRH Royal Opening

A Royal Opening for MCFT's Technical Academy

Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employer

UK’s Number One SME Apprenticeship Employer for 2025

SDG Flag Day 2025

MCFT Raises the Flag for a Sustainable Future

Big Comms Q3 2025

Bringing Our Teams Together: Highlights from MCFT Big Comms Q3 ﻿

International Day of Charity 2025

Celebrating International Day of Charity at MCFT

Compliance in Every Service

How Our Technicians Keep Kitchens Safe & Operational

National Youth Day 2025

Empowering the Next Generation of Technicians

MCFT ESG Report 2024

ESG Report 2024

2025 ESG Commitments

2025 ESG Commitments

Sam Ivey - Trainee to Team Leader

My Journey to Leadership: A Conversation with Sam Ivey

Progress Beyond the Tools

A Day in My Life

The Qualifications Behind the Career

How It Shaped My Career

National Intern Day

Supporting The Next Generation with Hands-on Experience

Staines RFC - MCFT PPM Service

Building Skills and Giving Back: MCFT Apprentices at Staines RFC

Top SME Apprenticeship Employer 2025

MCFT - Top Apprenticeship Employer!

City & Guilds Visit the MCFT Technical Academy

City & Guilds Visit Highlights Excellence at MCFT Technical Academy

Tijn - From Intern to MCFT Netherlands BDE

Tijn's MCFT Journey: Learning. Experience. Growth.

Front Page News: MCFT X Foodservice Equipment Journal

The Future of the Foodservice Industry

The Changing Landscape of Commercial Kitchen Services

Why Maintenance Matters More Than Ever

Twickenham RFC - CSR Kitchen Service

MCFT Apprentice Technicians at Twickenham Rugby Football Club

International Women in Engineering Day 2025

Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day

Global Maintenance Day 2025

Celebrating Our People Behind The Scenes

Why does maintenance matter?

Aspen Pumps Donates Industry-Leading Equipment to MCFT Technical Academy

Equipping Our Trainee Technicians with the Tools to Succeed

MCFT Ireland Launch

MCFT Expands Into Ireland: Local Focus, Global Standards

Mental Health Awareness Week

MCFT Annual Walsby Walk

MCFT Wales Charity Golf Game

Supporting Local Communities

Career Growth at MCFT

Why MCFT? Opportunities. Growth. Rewards.

Tell us about your journey from when you started at MCFT to now.

How has MCFT supported your career progression?

Where are you going to be working and what are the future plans?

Bringing Our Teams Together: Highlights from MCFT Big Comms Q3

2. Oil Spillage on Burners