Here is the second instalment in our Smart Spend series – which shares real stories of how our team have helped schools and Trusts achieve real savings and real outcomes. Each blog will show how practical decisions, expert support, and smart approaches to procurement and operations can make a tangible difference.
This instalment is shared by Tim Cookson, Chair at Litmus Partnership.
Boarding schools like Marlborough College offer outstanding opportunities for pupils, but behind the scenes, delivering high-quality catering across a busy estate can be incredibly complex. When Mike Naworynsky OBE, Director of Operations, joined the College in September 2022, he quickly identified that the in-house catering department needed support to modernise its approach – particularly around the annual £1.4m procurement of food and catering supplies.
Having worked with Litmus previously, Mike asked us to help him increase efficiency, reduce non-value work, comply with legislation, and improve both value and product quality.
Stepping in and understanding the processes
We temporarily embedded our team in the College to conduct a forensic review of every catering process, from ordering to invoicing. Our objectives included:
- Eliminate legacy paper systems and reduce unnecessary administrative activity
- Support the in-house team with robust supply chains and technology
- Remove cost from operational practices while improving food quality
- Support local food suppliers to adapt so that they can continue to supply the College
We started by holding focus groups with catering management and senior chefs to understand what worked, what didn’t, and what they wanted to change. This insight, combined with benchmarking current pricing and analysing supplier capabilities, allowed us to identify a preferred solution that would deliver measurable benefits.
Delivering the solution
Once our recommendations were approved, we worked with the College to implement them within three months, ahead of the 23/24 academic year. Key changes included:
- Achieved significant food cost savings
- A 20% reduction in the number of suppliers – all key local suppliers were retained, reinforcing the College’s commitment to supporting the local community and sustainability
- Enhanced menus with new products and produce, boosting pupil satisfaction
- The implementation of a fully funded procure-to-pay system – integrating purchasing and accounts payable
- A shift to digital data management – eliminating thousands of paper transactions and automating internal transfers and consumption tracking, saving hundreds of staff hours annually.
By digitising processes and streamlining procurement, the College now enjoys greater control, improved reporting, and a more efficient catering operation – freeing the team to focus on delivering exceptional meals for pupils and staff.
The takeaway
Modernising catering isn’t just about cost savings – it’s about empowering staff, reducing complexity, and improving outcomes for the school community. For Marlborough College, a smart spend meant better systems, smarter procurement, and measurable financial and operational benefits.
Mike Naworynsky OBE, Director of Operations, Marlborough College, shared: “Our dedicated and experienced catering team is passionate about their role and the importance of serving the Marlborough family. To support them, we modernised our support systems and procurement approach. Litmus guided us through this transformation, constantly engaging with our team to understand their needs and highlighting what was possible. The solutions they designed and implemented have revolutionised our operations, yielding significant food cost savings and streamlining processes.”
Read the full story on how we helped Marlborough College improve its purchasing here.
Keep your eyes peeled for our next Smart Spend series instalment.
The Litmus team
