Surrey County Council's head of commercial services has won the hospitality industry's equivalent of an Oscar for achieving outstanding results.

Beverley Baker was handed the public sector caterer prize at the national Catey Awards in London. The award is given annually to people or organisations working in education, healthcare or prisons who combine business acumen and innovation to achieve outstanding results.

Richard Wilson, director of nutrition and dietetics at King's College Hospital, was one of the judges. He said: "As a dietician, I was particularly impressed with all the work Beverley has done to promote school meals. The work Beverley is implementing is a key part of the battle to improve the health and life chances of our children."

Mr Wilson and the eight other judges praised Mrs Baker, who provides more than 50,000 meals a day to over 350 Surrey schools, for making "a real difference to young people's health through the food now served" and because she "led the way in introducing radical changes to services".

Peter Martin, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Children and Learning, said: "As we push on with our drive to be a world class organisation, this national recognition for the outstanding work Beverley does is hugely welcome. Her accolade is well deserved and is proof that some 50,000 pupils a day are being extremely well served in Surrey."

Mrs Baker, who is also the chair of the Local Authority Caterers Association, said: "I'm tremendously proud to be named alongside so many of the industry's high-fliers and best performers. Together with my team, I will do my very best to continue the great work that has earned this honour."