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Hygiene is your ultimate responsibility in your commercial kitchen and you need to take responsibility for everything that happens in there. If there is catering equipment that hasn’t been sterilised, if you have pests or some kind of infestation, or if you don’t clean surfaces as much as you should, then this is all your responsibility.

It’s important that you keep any objects that aren’t from your kitchen away from food preparation areas. For example, if a customer wants to take food home with them and they have brought their own container, it is usually required that they pack the food themselves at their table. This avoids you having potentially dirty containers in your kitchen that could have all manner of bugs and diseases. You can’t be too vigilant when it comes to protecting and cleaning your kitchen and making sure that hygiene is at the forefront, all of the time.

Restaurants will often have more equipment in house than general caterers, as they are based in one spot only. However, there might be times when a restaurant doesn’t quite have everything required, especially if you are working with outside caterers who are coming onto your premises. Rather than investing in new equipment, it is much more cost effective for you to hire in catering equipment.

Many catering equipment suppliers will be happy to help you out. They can advise you on what you might need, talk about prices (especially if you are hiring in bulk – there are often good deals to be had) and deliver your equipment to you on site. If you have any queries, a good catering equipment supplier will be able to talk you through everything. As a restaurant owner, make sure you are completely happy with the quality and that it meets your strict standards.

Renting catering equipment is an essential part of your work in catering. You will inevitably need to rent out equipment from time to time, especially if you are working somewhere that doesn’t have its own equipment to hand. The equipment you rent could be anything from a stove to a set of serving equipment, depending on what is needed.

It’s best if you can find a reliable supplier who will be able to provide everything you need, all in one place. One you have established a relationship with a particular supplier, make sure to maintain it, so you know they will be quick to respond if there is something that you need.

Find a supplier who rents equipment out by the day – it is usually not worth paying by the hour. It’s also good if you can find a supplier who has everything that you need in one place, so you can get all your equipment directly from them.

As a caterer, you will know how much you rely on the equipment you use in your work. No more so than with gastronorm pans, which are a key component of so many of the things you do. With their steel construction and practical shape, they will underpin so many of the processes that happen within your catering kitchen.

A good gastronorm pan will work in various context, whether you put it in a bain marie or you are using it to store food. It can be used for cooking, as well as for storing and serving food, and keeping it at temperature if necessary. Many caterers will have reams of these pans in their kitchens, to serve various occasions.

Buy your gastronorm pans with lids, so you know they will fit perfectly. This will keep food effectively and will make sure all food is stored correctly. Buy them from reputable catering suppliers.

Working in the catering and events industry, you are going to need some good contacts in order to get the best work. It’s competitive – everyone will be going after similar jobs in your marketplace. Having a close working relationship with an events planner will really help.

Much of the work in this industry comes from referrals and word of mouth – people will tell theit friends if they have had a particularly good wedding buffet, or if they have had excellent service when looking for someone to cater a party last minute. This is how you will grow your business and get more work.

If you are affiliated with an events manager, they can do some of this hard work for you, passing on your details to their clients. It’s important you have a website and/ or brochure so when people want to find out more about you, they have somewhere to go.

Finding a decent marquee for your event doesn’t have to be stressful. It is possible to find marquee hire Bedford for good prices, with good service and a wide choice of marquees to help you set the scene for your perfect event. Finding a good marquee is about more than finding a good supplier, though – this is a major part of it, but there’s much more to consider. It is all about finding a marquee that will work for you, giving you the space you need to realise your event’s potential and make sure all your guests are going to be able to make the most of your event. You should seriously think about the different marquee styles and which one will be best for your event.

You should spend plenty of time looking into marquees, their styles and how they can be used. You will need to know the details of your event before you can consider hiring, because you need to know how much space you will have and how many people have to be accommodated.

The main styles of marquee are:

Capri marquees 

These are the most modern kinds of marquees, offering you clean sightlines and a minimalist look. They don’t look like a traditional building – they have domed and peaked sections where the material is stretched over a frame. This means that they are supported internally and you won’t have to use dangerous guy lines and ropes that people could trip over.

Framed marquees 

With a more traditional look, these marquees are a regular shaped and can have windows to resemble an actual building. They tend to be a more traditional shape as well, so they can be good if you need to seat people in rows, such as for a wedding or a conference. They are also supported internally, so whilst they are more traditional in their looks, they are still innovative in their design. You will find many different features available and they will withstand harsh weather conditions, so you can even use them in winter.

Finding your supplier 

If you work in events and regularly plan weddings and corporate events, you might want to find a marquee supplier you can work with on a regular basis. This is a good way to get loyalty discounts and secure the best prices for your clients. When you work with a regularly company, you will get to know the ways in which each other work and you will be able to know at the drop of a hat what they are able to get for you. This can also be beneficial if you need other kinds of products, as many events planners won’t be able to keep things like chair covers, linen and crockery in stock. You will probably need to rely on an external supplier, so if this is something that your marquee supplier can also offer, this is a big bonus. You will then be able to source all the drinks, dining and events equipment you need in one single place.

Working as a freelance caterer, or having your own catering business, is never going to be easy. Chances are you spend lots of time on the lookout for new work, which will help keep your business ticking over. If you are able to secure ongoing contracts, this takes away a lot of the work for you.

In order to do this, you will need to partner up with other people and organisations. They may be wedding venues, pubs that offer food or corporate hire venues that need lunch supplying to their customers. There are many profitable relationships you can form for your business – just make sure people are aware that longer term contracts are an option. Even if a venue doesn’t use your services exclusively, it may be possible that they can recommend you to the people who book. Make sure they know the quality of your food and offer samples if you think it will help.