AN ABERDYFI catering department has been recognised as one of the UK’s happiest teams.

Following a tricky year, the catering team at The Outward Bound Trust in Aberdyfi was one of three finalists for the happiest team award, out of a field of over 120, at the recent National Happiness Awards.

Paul Almond, chef manager at the centre said: “In the summer of 2017, Outward Bound decided to refurbish the old dining hall at Aberdyfi.

“So for six weeks the catering team had to transport all of the food we cooked in the kitchen in army containers to the temporary kitchen and dining room 400m away.

“Every lunch-time we had to transport 400 sandwiches, crisps, fruit, cakes and flapjacks.

“Early shift started at 3.30am and late shift finished at 10.30pm - it was a long old day.

“But at no time did anyone fall out or give up, we kept going fuelled by humour. We became more of a team, learned to laugh in times of adversity and basically turned something that could have been negative into something positive.”

Francesca Scott, head of people strategy at the trust, added: “This is a real tribute to the whole team who have worked through very difficult conditions over the last year.

“Kitchens can be stressful places at the best of times but Aberdyfi’s customers were fed just as well as ever despite the kitchens and dining room being rebuilt around them.

“This is a thoroughly well-deserved accolade for a team who have shown the power of teamwork throughout a challenging time at work.”

Their success follows the trust winning the awards for happiest workplace and happiest employee in 2016.

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