Meet the Catering Team

With over 30 years of experience in the catering industry, Jayne Stubbs brings a wealth of expertise from diverse settings, including restaurants, hotels, and hospitals.

In 2005, she transitioned into the education sector, taking on the role of Cook in Charge at a local high school. Since then, Jayne has advanced her career steadily, from Cook to Team Leader, and now proudly serves as Catering Manager.

Jayne holds a range of City and Guilds catering qualifications, along with a Level 5 certification in leadership. She is also qualified in nutrition and hygiene, ensuring that her knowledge directly benefits the service she provides to schools.

In addition to her professional qualifications, Jayne is passionate about using food and education to make a positive impact on people’s lives. She has taught catering in community settings and through probationary services, enriching the lives of vulnerable individuals across Cheshire and Liverpool.

A strong advocate for children’s health, Jayne is an active member of the Local Authority Catering Association (LACA), where she sits on the Northwest Board. Her role with LACA further demonstrates her dedication to improving the health and well-being of children through nutritious school meals.

Rebecca Sly is our new Food Development Chef and she joined our Catering Team at Totally Local Company on 30 August 2024.

With diplomas in Culinary Arts and Child Nutrition, Rebecca brings extensive experience from both the UK and Canada. She has worked on developing recipes and menus for schools in both countries and has a strong background in school food programmes.

Rebecca’s previous roles include serving as Executive Chef to a representative of the crown and contributing to various student nutrition projects. She has also been involved in launching a pay-what-you-can school lunch programme and working on food access initiatives.

Rebecca is dedicated to improving food access for children and youth and looks forward to working with the local community and schools to enhance our food services.

Lisa ‘s career in the food industry began with a passion for baking, earning a Bakery Diploma during her college years. After working for a family bakery in Wilmslow, she became Head Confectioner at Sainsbury’s, where she honed her skills and leadership in the culinary field.

Lisa’s transition into training began when she accepted the role of Training Coach at Sainsbury’s, a pivotal move that sparked her career change. In this role, she was responsible for onboarding new employees and delivering department-specific training across various areas, including checkouts, produce, and deli and meat counters. Her expertise in training led to her working across multiple stores in the Northwest, supporting new store openings.

In response to the introduction of Nutritional Food Standards for school meals, following Jamie Oliver’s campaign, Lisa joined Totally Local Company as a ‘Food Champion.’ She worked closely with headteachers, schools, and cooks to implement changes to school menus, while also taking on responsibilities for menu development. This involved sourcing ingredients, creating recipes that appeal to children, and designing Theme Day menus for special events.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Lisa used the opportunity to expand her qualifications, earning the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA), making her a fully qualified assessor. As schools reopened, Lisa played a key role in developing the training program at Totally Local Company, ensuring all Catering employees received the necessary training to maintain high standards.

Today, Lisa manages the comprehensive training program for all Catering employees, overseeing mandatory training and providing a three-week induction program for new Cooks. She also coordinates the Cluster Training Day, an annual event held before the new school term, designed to motivate and educate the team in an engaging and upbeat session. Recently, she has partnered with the charity Chefs in Schools to enhance the company’s commitment to delivering healthy, affordable, and delicious school meals.

Lisa is also the editor of a termly newsletter for catering colleagues, where she shares success stories, recipes, and updates on upcoming events.

With over 40 years of experience in the catering industry, Carol Tennant is a highly skilled and versatile Catering Team Leader.

Throughout her career, she has worked across various aspects of hospitality, specialising in front-of-house services, while also honing her skills as a fully qualified chef.

Carol’s expertise spans a wide range of culinary experiences, from creating high-end executive event menus to preparing wholesome, home-cooked meals.

In addition to her culinary skills, Carol brings valuable experience in menu planning, food and nutrition, budgeting, stock management, and overall kitchen operations. Her leadership in the education sector is particularly noteworthy, with over 30 years of experience as a multi-site manager.

Carol is passionate about driving her team and business forward. She strongly believes that a motivated and happy team is key to achieving outstanding results, and she is committed to fostering an environment where every team member feels valued and inspired to deliver their best.

Joanne Dale brings a wealth of experience and passion for catering to her role as Team Leader at Totally Local Company. Although she began her career in hairdressing and later care work, it was her move into the catering industry that truly sparked her professional journey.

Her transition into catering began when she joined Heaton School as a general assistant. During her time there, Joanne followed her passion for food, completing an NVQ Level 2 in Catering. This qualification opened new doors for her, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, she stepped up to serve as a cook across various schools. Her dedication and skill in these roles earned her a permanent position as a cook at St. Elisabeth’s School, where she excelled for two years.

In February 2023, Joanne’s hard work and leadership potential were recognised, leading to her promotion to Team Leader of the Catering Team. Her commitment to high standards and her ability to inspire her team have been instrumental in her success.

Beyond her work at Totally Local Company, Joanne further refined her culinary skills by taking on roles as a chef at Macclesfield Football Ground for Robbie Savage and later in a Manchester restaurant. However, following her promotion, she transitioned to full-time hours at TLC, allowing her to fully focus on leading the catering team.

Joanne is passionate about delivering quality meals and creating a positive dining experience for all those she serves. Her journey from assistant to Team Leader reflects her dedication, and she is excited to continue growing and contributing to the company.

Kelly Brown brings over 20 years of experience in catering and hospitality management to her role as a Team Leader.

She began her career in 2003, working in various management positions across the sector.

In 2011, Kelly decided to step back from management to focus on her young family, during which time she worked as a catering assistant at Stockport Grammar School for seven years.

In 2023, Kelly re-entered management as Catering Supervisor (Cook in Charge) at Dial Park School.

In March 2024, she joined Totally Local Company as Cook in Charge at Lum Head Primary School.

Kelly’s strong leadership skills and passion for delivering quality service led to her promotion to Team Leader, and she is excited to embrace this new challenge while continuing to contribute to the success of the Schools Education Catering team.

Blake joined TLC in January 2022, bringing a wealth of experience in business development and client relationship management.

As Business Development Executive, Blake oversees all aspects of business growth, manages external partnerships, and leads the company’s sales and marketing efforts.

His responsibilities range from account management and contract negotiations to managing bids and identifying new business opportunities.

With a strong background in team leadership across various industries—most notably within the recruitment sector—Blake has extensive experience working directly with clients.

He is passionate about building and nurturing long-term relationships, ensuring both client satisfaction and business success.

Outside of work, Blake is a dedicated father of three fantastic children and enjoys spending time with his family, often exploring new places together on long walks. Blake is an avid sports enthusiast, and he is particularly fond of football and rugby union.