Types of Membership

Full Membership

Open to persons directly involved in NHS Healthcare Catering Management - annual subscription of £72.00 including VAT.

Associate Membership

Open to trade suppliers and similar non catering management personnel - annual subscription of £72.00 including VAT. (Associate Membership limited 25% (twenty-five percent) of Branch Membership – See HCA Bylaw B, 10b).

Life Membership

Open to Full Members who on the grounds of age or ill health retire – a single payment of £72.00 including VAT at 20%.

Guest Membership

Open to persons actively employed in Healthcare Catering. For example, catering supervisory positions, who have appropriate qualifications and/or expertise, and who are actively employed to manage food and nutrition for patients. This option is free for up to one year, not renewable and not extendable and thereafter Guest Members will be invited to join as Full Members.

Honorary Membership

Granted to Full Members, who in the opinion of National Board, and approved at the AGM of the Association have given exceptional service to the Association.

Patronage Scheme

There is also a Patronage scheme in place for those companies wishing to support the Association, and become involved in Branch activities - the annual subscription for an individual Patron is £144.00 including VAT, and for a Corporate Patron is £1,728.00 including VAT.

Honorary Patron

Granted to pay tribute and recognise national figures or individuals who have undertaken important work in NHS catering for the benefit of the service and recognised and worked with the HCA to achieve these benefits, also awarded to individuals whose standing and reputation in society have helped to endorse or communicate the aims and messages of both the Association and the hospital catering sector. Honorary Patron membership is renewable annually at the discretion of the HCA's National Board.

Overseas Membership

Overseas Membership of the Association is open to persons actively employed in health care catering management outside of the UK and who are appropriately qualified.

Overseas members should note that all communication will be by email, and in English. The Hospital Caterer magazine will be available as the online version. Other benefits include:

• Access to the Members only section of the HCA website.
• May attend Branch Meetings when in the UK.
• May attend the Learning and Development Forum at the Full Member rate (all travel costs and any necessary visas are at the member’s expense).
• All memberships shall be covered by UK law.

Annual subscription of £72.00 GBP (Overseas Members do not pay VAT, but will have to pay any local taxes, and any bank charges for currency conversion). All payments are to be remitted in GBP (Sterling, via bank transfer on receipt of invoice) and any bank charges and local taxes are to be borne by the applicant.