We are delighted to share that our Founder and Managing Director, Julian Fris, has been awarded Director of the Year for Innovation at the highly respected Institute of Directors (IoD) Awards 2025.
This award is a landmark moment – not only for Julian personally, but for Neller Davies and the wider healthcare catering sector.
The IoD Awards are among the most respected accolades in UK leadership. Representing leaders from every major sector, the Institute of Directors sets the benchmark for excellence, governance, and forward-thinking management.
Its awards programme celebrates individuals who demonstrate exceptional vision, integrity, and impact – leaders who raise standards and shape the future of British industry.
For Julian to be recognised by such a rigorous and respected institution is an extraordinary achievement.
The Innovation category, in particular, honours directors who have challenged convention, introduced new thinking and driven meaningful transformation within their field. It is one of the most competitive and sought-after awards in the programme.
Julian’s win reflects years of pioneering work that has changed how food in healthcare is understood, delivered, and valued.
While the NHS has long grappled with complex, systemic catering challenges, Julian has consistently pushed for a new way forward – one where food is viewed not simply as a service to be delivered, but as an essential component of patient care, wellbeing, and organisational culture. His vision has helped shift mindsets at every level, from executive teams to frontline operations.
Being named Director of the Year (Innovation) by the IoD signals that Julian’s work is not only industry-leading, but nationally significant. It recognises that innovation in public-sector food is essential, not optional – and that reimagining healthcare catering is a crucial part of modernising the NHS.