FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
Company of Cooks has won a three-year catering and hospitality contract, worth £2.5 million at No.4 Hamilton Place, the headquarters of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS).
As well as providing a base for RAeS employees, the Edwardian townhouse features magnificent event spaces perfect for Society events and private and corporate clients, including a stunning roof terrace overlooking Hyde Park.
Following a competitive tender, the RAeS selected Company of Cooks to deliver its innovative food, drink and service across the venue’s hospitality touchpoints, which include internal and external events and the members’ lounge. Reasons cited for this decision include the team’s experience and proven success in maximising the commercial potential of historic venues, as well as its focus on local sourcing. eve – Company of Cooks’ sister brand that specialises in event sales and marketing – will also support in unlocking the venue’s full commercial capability.
Laurent Lucas-Dufour, Sector Director for Company of Cooks, said: “We are thrilled to be in partnership with the Royal Aeronautical Society at No.4 Hamilton Place. The venue is stunning and we embrace the opportunity to elevate the hospitality and service experience of Society employees, members and guests, and to cement its status as a London event venue of choice for meetings and conferences to weddings and summer parties, and more! We are experienced in maximising the customer experience and revenue potential of historic buildings in London and we can’t wait to work together to realise the great opportunities that No.4 Hamilton Place holds.”
David Edwards FRAeS, Chief Executive, Royal Aeronautical Society, said: “We’re delighted to have selected Company of Cooks to be our hospitality and catering partner at our historical home at No.4 Hamilton Place. Our members and guests rely on the highest standards and quality of catering and service, which we’re confident Company of Cooks will bring – building on their experience at some of London’s iconic venues and with a strong focus on boutique suppliers. We’re looking forward to continuing to develop our reputation as one of the finest events spaces in London together.”
According to the 2026 UK Facilities Management Market Research Report by askporter, facilities management professionals want clear, verifiable evidence of work being delivered, with teams that can communicate progress in real time. This requires technology that is affordable, intuitive, and quick to adopt.
Yet the report found that:
Over three quarters of FM professionals (76 per cent) experience operational inefficiencies caused by siloed software which results in a lack of real-time visibility.
Communications challenges lead to maintenance issues, with 73 per cent of teams being forced into reactive problem-solving on a weekly basis.
A worrying level of compliance gaps, with 44 per cent of admitting that half or less of their compliance tasks are tracked and automated within their systems.
Closing this gap requires the establishment of transparent and consistent communications using affordable software that gives FM teams the ability to track, evidence and improve their services.
This webinar provides a valuable overview of the main findings of the report by askporter followed by a panel discussion by FM thought leaders on practical, strategic solutions that can help close this communications gap.
To register for the webinar taking place 29 January 2026 at 11:00am click here.
