BM receives two-star rating from Best Companies

BM Caterers has been awarded a two-star rating from Best Companies for its ‘outstanding’ commitment to workplace engagement.

Published annually, the list recognises the UK’s most attractive and effective employers. Participating businesses are judged on factors including workplace engagement initiatives, staff wellbeing, benefits, company culture and values.

The workplace catering firm has been accredited by and achieved a one-star rating from Best Companies for the last decade and has managed to improve its score to two stars – the second highest accreditation – through improved employee engagement and an enhanced staff benefits package.

The accreditation was based on the score generated by a survey sent to all team members, who could submit their responses confidentially to provide honest and insightful feedback. Employees were asked to respond to statements about their wellbeing, pay and benefits, personal growth, team, and leadership.

BM launched its Pearfect enhanced benefits package earlier this year. Team members now get 24 weeks of fully paid maternity leave and four weeks of secondary carer leave, as well as three days of grandparent leave, all of which extend to families welcoming new members through adoption and surrogacy. The company is also offering four weeks of fully paid leave for periods of fertility treatment.

This is in addition to BM team members already being able to take advantage of paid leave for their wedding/commitment day and birthday, one day a year for volunteering, and free meals during working hours. Wellbeing perks include an annual health check, and six mental health consultations, six nutritional consultations and three digital GP sessions per year for them or their immediate family.

Staff gave top marks for BM’s team dynamic, leadership, wellbeing, personal growth and pay. Team member feedback also indicated staff felt the company had a strong social conscience, managers cared about their job satisfaction, they felt inspired by leadership, a strong sense of family, and had confidence in senior management.

The company currently stands at number 111 in Best Companies’ national ranking for top large companies to work for in the UK, thirteenth in the business services sector, and number 43 regionally, placing it among the top 50 large companies to work for in London.

Murray Soper, Head of People & Talent at BM, said: “We’re so happy to have been recognised as an outstanding company to work for and to have achieved a two-star accreditation for the first time. We’re committed to our team’s happiness and development and this shows we’re going in the right direction. It also gives us an accurate benchmark against which to compare our engagement levels year-on-year, and how we compare to others. We’ll continue to focus on listening to our people and hearing their views to drive improvements and keep making things better for everyone who works for us.”

Next steps planned to further improve employee experience include an online suggestion box; employee representative groups to advise on business strategy; publishing leadership competency frameworks; and a revamped appraisal and personal development process, including tools and better clarity on career pathways.