Chartwells Independent, a division of Compass Group UK & Ireland, has officially rebranded as Lodestone House.
The rebrand unites Compass’s independent school catering operations under a single name. This includes the independent school catering division of CH&Co, which Compass Group acquired last year.
Lodestone House will operate under the ethos of “garden to kitchen to classroom,” emphasising seasonality, sustainability, and social value.
Noelle Jones, managing director at Lodestone House, which works with more than 100 independent schools, said: “The independent school sector has changed significantly in recent years, bringing both new challenges and opportunities. Lodestone House is our response – not just a name change, but a fundamental evolution of everything we do shaped by the voices of clients, pupils, parents and team members.
“This is about unearthing best practice from across our business and looking forward to reimagine every aspect of our offer to better support our schools, rooted that commitment in our heritage and underpinned by clear purpose: to nourish, educate and empower young people.”
As part of the relaunch, Lodestone House has introduced a new education programme aimed at teaching pupils about food and nutrition. The programme features workshops and chef-led activities tailored to each school’s needs. For example, schools with a strong sports focus can access a bespoke sports nutrition programme, designed by registered sports nutritionists and delivered through both seminars and hands-on sessions.
“Through our three pillars – garden, kitchen, classroom – we’re instilling a love for fresh, homemade food from farm to fork, embedding food education into daily school life and championing social value to support both people and planet,” said Jones. “We’ve carefully cultivated our menus and education programme to help pupils thrive – consistently fuelling their minds, supporting their wellbeing, and building vital life skills they will carry into the future.
“This isn’t rocket science, it’s about doing the simple things excellently, every day, and creating an outwardly looking brand that reflects and represents the amazing quality our teams deliver.”
The independent school sector has faced considerable challenges over the past year. With VAT now applied to school fees, many pupils are transferring to the state system as parents contend with rising costs. Additionally, the removal of charitable business rates relief from early 2025 will add further pressure to a sector already grappling with inflation and rising payroll expenses.
Jones said the rebrand was “a chance to demonstrate to our schools we can give them so much more than deliver on the plate”.
She added: “We’re a partner for the future as they’re evolving and changing in respond to challenges in the marketplace, demanding parents, pupil numbers and financials.”
Lodestone will also draw on expertise from across the Compass business to help schools explore new revenue streams.
“We need to understand how we can become a commercial partner,” she said. “From weddings and conferences to renting out areas of the school on an ad hoc basis. Everyone wants a piece of the market and we’re in a position to help and support as we can pull in expertise from other sectors. We’re on that learning curve, they’ve been adapting and we’re adapting.”
The name Lodestone is inspired by the earliest compasses, which became magnetised when struck with lodestone, referencing parent company Compass Group, while “House” links back to Charlton House, acquired by CH&Co in 2014.
The new logo reinterprets the fleur-de-lis using an ear of wheat, a whisk, and a feather quill to symbolise the garden, kitchen, and classroom. The colour palette draws inspiration from the dining room at Winston Churchill’s Chartwell House, the namesake of Chartwells.