RATIONAL strengthens public sector support through specialist roles
Rational UK has strengthened its support for public sector catering with the appointment of Darren Hemsley and David Gledhill as Area Sales Managers – Public Sector.
Both Darren and David move into these specialist roles following their experience as Regional Sales Managers at Rational, where they have built long-standing relationships with dealers, consultants and end users across a wide range of professional kitchen environments. Their appointments reflect Rational’s continued investment in experienced people who understand the realities of commercial catering and can provide informed, practical support to the public sector.
In their new positions, reporting into Colin Parry, National Sales Director, Rational UK, Darren and David will work closely with healthcare, education, local authority and care catering teams. Their focus will be on helping operators achieve consistency, efficiency and long-term reliability in demanding environments where compliance, continuity and value are critical.
Rational cooking systems are already well established across public sector kitchens, valued for their robustness, ease of use and proven performance. Darren and David’s enhanced responsibilities ensure that customers, partners and stakeholders continue to benefit from specialist knowledge rooted in real operational experience.
David Gledhill commented “Public sector kitchens continue to face pressure from tight budgets, staffing challenges and increasing demand. Our focus is on supporting customers with solutions that help them operate more efficiently while maintaining consistent food quality.”
A key element of the role will be building and strengthening relationships across the sector. Darren and David will work alongside catering teams, procurement bodies, consultants and industry associations to ensure that Rational solutions remain closely aligned to operational needs and regulatory frameworks. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, this specialisation allows for informed guidance shaped by sector-specific challenges.
Training and end user support will continue to play an important role. Rational supports customers through a nationwide network of more than 60 demonstration and training sites, including customer kitchens, partner locations and dedicated Rational academies across the UK.
This flexibility enables training to take place in real working environments or at specialist facilities, depending on what best suits the operator. The emphasis remains on practical, hands-on learning that reflects the day-to-day pressures of public sector catering and helps teams get more value from both their equipment and processes.
Darren Hemsley added “Access to practical training and ongoing support is vital for public sector caterers, and this is an area where Rational continues to invest and add real value.”
In addition to working directly with customers and partners, Darren and David will continue to support key industry associations and attend sector conferences, operating responsibly and in line with public sector marketing guidelines. Through engagement with organisations such as the Hospital Caterers Association (HCA), they will help ensure that the voice and needs of end users remain well represented across the sector.
