Contract caterer reveals plans to create over 100 jobs

One of the UK’s largest contract catering companies has told TheBusinessDesk.com it is planning to create in excess of 100 jobs this year after forecasting a 25% spike in its gross profits.

Ashby-based Wilson Vale has seen its revenue increase by 6.5% in 2022 and has now revealed ambitious plans to add to its 650-strong team.

Led by joint managing directors David Anderson and Phil Hindmarch, the firm works with over 300 British suppliers, serving a wide range of clients in the business and industry, private education and conference venue sectors.

It is committed to a detailed environmental and social agenda, which it calls The Full Works, and has a strong track record of attracting women to the contract catering sector.

71% of Wilson Vale’s HQ managers and 50% of its executive board are women, as are 57% of the company’s upper middle quartile of employees by pay.

David Anderson said: “Our secret is our consistency – we will never lose sight of what we currently have to chase turnover. We forge lasting client partnerships that from day one to the present day have the same amount of importance and dedication invested into them. This means that our retention rates are something we are incredibly proud of.

“We still have our first ever client and still operate four out of the first five contracts we were awarded. Of our existing clients that went out to tender over the five years up to 2022, we retained almost 90% of contracts.

“It is the commitment we make at site level that drives our retention and growth. We make sure conversations remain predominantly around food and people. The number of maximum sites each of our area managers look after remains unchanged at ten, allowing them to visit their clients at least fortnightly. They spend their time focussing on high quality support, developing the offer and nurturing our people. If we get these things right then the numbers fall into place and this has been our approach for 20 years.”

Phil Hindmarch added: “On recruitment it’s important to be an attractive proposition. “It’s no secret that the industry is facing significant recruitment shortages and so we’ve had to think long and hard about how we can attract and retain the very best people not just into our business but as an industry as a whole. We are in the process of renewing our employee benefits package which will offer incentives in addition to those already in place.

“We are continuing to build our relationships with local colleges and are offering placements to the next generation of talent who perhaps did not see contract catering as an obvious route. Building a network of trust and engagement with colleges gives us the opportunity to dial into fresh talent and we look forward to speaking to the students at some of those colleges over the coming months to demonstrate to them just how wonderful a career in hospitality can be.”

Wilson Vale was acquired by the UK wing of US food and facilities giant Aramark in 2021.

It was founded by catering industry powerhouses Carolyne Vale and Andrew Wilson in 2002.