Catering & Canteen
Catering and canteen supplies are a legal requirement on UK construction sites, where workers must have access to facilities for eating, drinking, and preparing hot drinks throughout the working day. CMT Group supplies a comprehensive range of catering and canteen products for construction sites including paper cups, water dispensers and water cooler bottles, tea, coffee and sugar, catering cutlery, plates and bowls, kettles and urns, toasters and microwaves, fridges, and dishwashers, covering the welfare catering requirements of construction sites and site managers across the UK.
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Under the CDM Regulations 2015 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, construction sites must provide rest facilities where workers can eat meals, make hot drinks, and take rest breaks in a clean and sheltered environment. These are not discretionary welfare provisions: they are legal requirements that apply from the first day of site operations and must be maintained throughout the project. CMT Group has been supplying catering and canteen products to UK construction sites for over 20 years, with a range covering the full scope of site canteen provisioning from paper cups and water cooler bottles through to kitchen appliances and dishwashers.
- ✓ Paper cups including biodegradable and recyclable options for site canteen use
- ✓ Water dispensers and 18.9 litre water cooler bottles with water bottle delivery available
- ✓ Tea, coffee, and sugar in catering quantities for site canteen provisioning
- ✓ Catering cutlery including biodegradable and stainless steel options for site canteens
- ✓ Plates, bowls, and crockery for site welfare canteen facilities
- ✓ Kettles and hot water urns for tea and coffee provision in site welfare areas
- ✓ Toasters, microwaves, fridges, and dishwashers for fully equipped site canteens
- ✓ Next day delivery standard. VIP 2-3 hour delivery on a dedicated vehicle also available
Paper Cups, Water Dispensers, and Canteen Compliance
Paper cups and water dispensers are among the most consumed catering consumables on active construction sites. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require employers to provide an adequate supply of wholesome drinking water, and on construction sites this is most commonly provided through water dispensers and water cooler machines supplied with 18.9 litre water bottles.
Biodegradable paper cups and Birchwood biodegradable cutlery provide an environmentally responsible alternative to standard single-use plastic-based disposable catering products, helping sites meet sustainability commitments and reduce single-use plastic waste in compliance with the Environment Act 2021 and client sustainability requirements. Paper cups and biodegradable cutlery are high-volume daily consumables on active sites and should be ordered in bulk quantities and replenished regularly to avoid running out.
Catering and Canteen Supplies by Type
Our range covers the catering and canteen products needed to run compliant and fully equipped welfare facilities on construction sites.
Catering and Canteen Supplies for UK Construction Sites
Providing adequate canteen and catering facilities on a construction site is a legal requirement under the CDM Regulations 2015 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. Workers must have access to a rest area with seating, a means of heating food or drinks, and drinking water throughout the working day. Welfare facilities that do not meet these minimum requirements are a compliance risk that the HSE takes seriously and that major clients increasingly audit as part of their contractor welfare standards assessments.
CMT Group has been supplying catering and canteen products to UK construction sites for over 20 years. Our range covers the complete scope of site canteen provisioning from paper cups and water cooler bottles consumed daily in high volumes through to the kitchen appliances and dishwashers needed to fully equip a welfare canteen for a large workforce. We operate our own fleet of 100+ FORS Gold accredited vehicles covering 90% of the UK, with next day delivery standard on orders placed by 5pm by phone or 7pm online, and VIP 2-3 hour delivery on a dedicated vehicle dispatched within 30 minutes for urgent site requirements.
Frequently asked questions
What catering facilities are legally required on a construction site?
Under the CDM Regulations 2015 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, construction sites must provide rest facilities including seating with back support, shelter from weather, a means of heating food or preparing hot drinks, and access to clean drinking water. The facilities must be separate from the working area and must be maintained in a clean condition throughout the project. For projects lasting more than a few days, this means a welfare unit with a kettle or urn, a microwave or means of heating food, a fridge for food storage, drinking water provision, and adequate seating with tables. Simply having a dry area with a kettle does not meet the full regulatory standard for projects with a significant number of workers or a substantial programme duration.
What size water cooler bottle do I need for a site water dispenser?
The standard water cooler bottle size used with bottle-fed water dispensers is 18.9 litres, sometimes referred to as a 5-gallon bottle. This is the industry standard format compatible with the vast majority of top-loading and bottom-loading water cooler dispenser units. The 18.9 litre bottle provides a practical balance between bottle weight when full and the number of bottle changes required per day based on the number of workers using the dispenser. For a welfare unit serving 20 or more workers, a single 18.9 litre bottle will typically last one working day. CMT supplies 18.9 litre water cooler bottles for regular delivery to construction sites and can arrange scheduled replenishment to match site requirements.
What is the difference between a kettle and a hot water urn for a site canteen?
A kettle heats a single fill of water per cycle, typically between 1 and 1.7 litres, and is suitable for welfare units where only a small number of workers are making hot drinks at any one time. A hot water urn holds and maintains a much larger volume of hot water, typically between 10 and 30 litres, continuously at serving temperature throughout the working day. An urn allows multiple workers to serve themselves hot drinks simultaneously without waiting for a kettle to reboil. For welfare units serving more than around 10 workers, a hot water urn provides significantly faster hot drink service and is the more practical and energy-efficient choice for busy site welfare areas.
Why should I use biodegradable cups and cutlery on a construction site?
Biodegradable cups and cutlery made from paper, wood, or plant-based materials provide a practical alternative to conventional single-use plastic catering products on construction sites. The Environment Act 2021 and associated regulations restrict the supply of certain single-use plastic items, and many major contractors and clients now require evidence of reduced single-use plastic use as part of their sustainability and environmental commitments. Birchwood biodegradable cutlery manufactured from sustainable birchwood provides the same function as conventional plastic cutlery in a fully compostable format. Biodegradable paper cups manufactured without plastic film lining are also recyclable in most commercial recycling streams. Using biodegradable alternatives supports site sustainability credentials and reduces the volume of non-recyclable plastic waste generated in site welfare areas.
Why buy catering and canteen supplies from CMT Group?
CMT Group has been supplying catering and canteen products to UK construction sites for over 20 years. Our range is curated specifically for the welfare canteen requirements of active construction sites, covering everything from paper cups, water cooler bottles, and tea and coffee through to kettles and urns, toasters and microwaves, fridges, and dishwashers, so a site canteen can be fully provisioned from a single supplier. We also stock biodegradable and eco-friendly options from Birchwood to support sustainability requirements. We operate our own fleet of 100+ FORS Gold accredited vehicles covering 90% of the UK, with next day delivery standard on orders placed by 5pm by phone or 7pm online, and VIP 2-3 hour delivery on a dedicated vehicle dispatched within 30 minutes for urgent welfare supply requirements.
Paper Cups vs Reusable Cups: Which Is Right for Your Site?
Both paper cups and reusable cups have a role in construction site welfare facilities, and the right choice depends on the size of the workforce, the duration of the project, and the sustainability commitments of the contractor and client. Paper cups are the most common choice for site welfare use because they require no washing up, eliminate the risk of contamination between workers sharing crockery, and can be stocked in very large quantities at low cost per unit. On sites with high worker turnover or where welfare facilities are used by many different trades throughout the day, the convenience and hygiene advantages of disposable paper cups are significant.
Reusable cups and mugs reduce ongoing consumable cost on long-duration projects and eliminate paper cup waste entirely, which supports site sustainability targets and reduces the volume of waste generated in the welfare area. The trade-off is the requirement for washing-up facilities and the discipline to ensure cups are cleaned after each use. Biodegradable paper cups provide a middle ground: the convenience and hygiene of single-use cups with a significantly lower environmental impact than conventional plastic-coated paper cups, as they can be composted or recycled. For most construction sites, biodegradable paper cups in bulk quantities represent the most practical and sustainable choice for high-volume canteen use.
Shop Catering and Canteen by Type
Catering & Canteen
Catering and canteen supplies are a legal requirement on UK construction sites, where workers must have access to facilities for eating, drinking, and preparing hot drinks throughout the working day. CMT Group supplies a comprehensive range of catering and canteen products for construction sites including paper cups, water dispensers and water cooler bottles, tea, coffee and sugar, catering cutlery, plates and bowls, kettles and urns, toasters and microwaves, fridges, and dishwashers, covering the welfare catering requirements of construction sites and site managers across the UK.
Read more Read less
Under the CDM Regulations 2015 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, construction sites must provide rest facilities where workers can eat meals, make hot drinks, and take rest breaks in a clean and sheltered environment. These are not discretionary welfare provisions: they are legal requirements that apply from the first day of site operations and must be maintained throughout the project. CMT Group has been supplying catering and canteen products to UK construction sites for over 20 years, with a range covering the full scope of site canteen provisioning from paper cups and water cooler bottles through to kitchen appliances and dishwashers.
- ✓ Paper cups including biodegradable and recyclable options for site canteen use
- ✓ Water dispensers and 18.9 litre water cooler bottles with water bottle delivery available
- ✓ Tea, coffee, and sugar in catering quantities for site canteen provisioning
- ✓ Catering cutlery including biodegradable and stainless steel options for site canteens
- ✓ Plates, bowls, and crockery for site welfare canteen facilities
- ✓ Kettles and hot water urns for tea and coffee provision in site welfare areas
- ✓ Toasters, microwaves, fridges, and dishwashers for fully equipped site canteens
- ✓ Next day delivery standard. VIP 2-3 hour delivery on a dedicated vehicle also available
Paper Cups, Water Dispensers, and Canteen Compliance
Paper cups and water dispensers are among the most consumed catering consumables on active construction sites. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require employers to provide an adequate supply of wholesome drinking water, and on construction sites this is most commonly provided through water dispensers and water cooler machines supplied with 18.9 litre water bottles.
Biodegradable paper cups and Birchwood biodegradable cutlery provide an environmentally responsible alternative to standard single-use plastic-based disposable catering products, helping sites meet sustainability commitments and reduce single-use plastic waste in compliance with the Environment Act 2021 and client sustainability requirements. Paper cups and biodegradable cutlery are high-volume daily consumables on active sites and should be ordered in bulk quantities and replenished regularly to avoid running out.
Catering and Canteen Supplies by Type
Our range covers the catering and canteen products needed to run compliant and fully equipped welfare facilities on construction sites.
Catering and Canteen Supplies for UK Construction Sites
Providing adequate canteen and catering facilities on a construction site is a legal requirement under the CDM Regulations 2015 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. Workers must have access to a rest area with seating, a means of heating food or drinks, and drinking water throughout the working day. Welfare facilities that do not meet these minimum requirements are a compliance risk that the HSE takes seriously and that major clients increasingly audit as part of their contractor welfare standards assessments.
CMT Group has been supplying catering and canteen products to UK construction sites for over 20 years. Our range covers the complete scope of site canteen provisioning from paper cups and water cooler bottles consumed daily in high volumes through to the kitchen appliances and dishwashers needed to fully equip a welfare canteen for a large workforce. We operate our own fleet of 100+ FORS Gold accredited vehicles covering 90% of the UK, with next day delivery standard on orders placed by 5pm by phone or 7pm online, and VIP 2-3 hour delivery on a dedicated vehicle dispatched within 30 minutes for urgent site requirements.
Frequently asked questions
What catering facilities are legally required on a construction site?
Under the CDM Regulations 2015 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, construction sites must provide rest facilities including seating with back support, shelter from weather, a means of heating food or preparing hot drinks, and access to clean drinking water. The facilities must be separate from the working area and must be maintained in a clean condition throughout the project. For projects lasting more than a few days, this means a welfare unit with a kettle or urn, a microwave or means of heating food, a fridge for food storage, drinking water provision, and adequate seating with tables. Simply having a dry area with a kettle does not meet the full regulatory standard for projects with a significant number of workers or a substantial programme duration.
What size water cooler bottle do I need for a site water dispenser?
The standard water cooler bottle size used with bottle-fed water dispensers is 18.9 litres, sometimes referred to as a 5-gallon bottle. This is the industry standard format compatible with the vast majority of top-loading and bottom-loading water cooler dispenser units. The 18.9 litre bottle provides a practical balance between bottle weight when full and the number of bottle changes required per day based on the number of workers using the dispenser. For a welfare unit serving 20 or more workers, a single 18.9 litre bottle will typically last one working day. CMT supplies 18.9 litre water cooler bottles for regular delivery to construction sites and can arrange scheduled replenishment to match site requirements.
What is the difference between a kettle and a hot water urn for a site canteen?
A kettle heats a single fill of water per cycle, typically between 1 and 1.7 litres, and is suitable for welfare units where only a small number of workers are making hot drinks at any one time. A hot water urn holds and maintains a much larger volume of hot water, typically between 10 and 30 litres, continuously at serving temperature throughout the working day. An urn allows multiple workers to serve themselves hot drinks simultaneously without waiting for a kettle to reboil. For welfare units serving more than around 10 workers, a hot water urn provides significantly faster hot drink service and is the more practical and energy-efficient choice for busy site welfare areas.
Why should I use biodegradable cups and cutlery on a construction site?
Biodegradable cups and cutlery made from paper, wood, or plant-based materials provide a practical alternative to conventional single-use plastic catering products on construction sites. The Environment Act 2021 and associated regulations restrict the supply of certain single-use plastic items, and many major contractors and clients now require evidence of reduced single-use plastic use as part of their sustainability and environmental commitments. Birchwood biodegradable cutlery manufactured from sustainable birchwood provides the same function as conventional plastic cutlery in a fully compostable format. Biodegradable paper cups manufactured without plastic film lining are also recyclable in most commercial recycling streams. Using biodegradable alternatives supports site sustainability credentials and reduces the volume of non-recyclable plastic waste generated in site welfare areas.
Why buy catering and canteen supplies from CMT Group?
CMT Group has been supplying catering and canteen products to UK construction sites for over 20 years. Our range is curated specifically for the welfare canteen requirements of active construction sites, covering everything from paper cups, water cooler bottles, and tea and coffee through to kettles and urns, toasters and microwaves, fridges, and dishwashers, so a site canteen can be fully provisioned from a single supplier. We also stock biodegradable and eco-friendly options from Birchwood to support sustainability requirements. We operate our own fleet of 100+ FORS Gold accredited vehicles covering 90% of the UK, with next day delivery standard on orders placed by 5pm by phone or 7pm online, and VIP 2-3 hour delivery on a dedicated vehicle dispatched within 30 minutes for urgent welfare supply requirements.
Paper Cups vs Reusable Cups: Which Is Right for Your Site?
Both paper cups and reusable cups have a role in construction site welfare facilities, and the right choice depends on the size of the workforce, the duration of the project, and the sustainability commitments of the contractor and client. Paper cups are the most common choice for site welfare use because they require no washing up, eliminate the risk of contamination between workers sharing crockery, and can be stocked in very large quantities at low cost per unit. On sites with high worker turnover or where welfare facilities are used by many different trades throughout the day, the convenience and hygiene advantages of disposable paper cups are significant.
Reusable cups and mugs reduce ongoing consumable cost on long-duration projects and eliminate paper cup waste entirely, which supports site sustainability targets and reduces the volume of waste generated in the welfare area. The trade-off is the requirement for washing-up facilities and the discipline to ensure cups are cleaned after each use. Biodegradable paper cups provide a middle ground: the convenience and hygiene of single-use cups with a significantly lower environmental impact than conventional plastic-coated paper cups, as they can be composted or recycled. For most construction sites, biodegradable paper cups in bulk quantities represent the most practical and sustainable choice for high-volume canteen use.
