Bakery hires HR and employment law specialist in £15m turnover push

HR, employment law and health & safety consultancy, Howarths, has been appointed by bakery Carrs Pasties as the brand aims to reach £15m turnover by 2026.

The family business, which counts celebrities including DJs Sara Cox and Chris Moyles among its customers, has engaged Howarths to deliver strategic employment law and HR support in line with its ambitious growth plans.

Gavin Howarth, managing director at Cleckheaton-based Howarths, said: “Getting solid HR and employment law procedures and training in place is crucial for any growing business looking to retain and recruit the best talent.

“Having delivered an initial HR audit and employee engagement survey to benchmark the business, we will now work closely with the senior management team and directors to develop and implement a bespoke HR and people development strategy to drive employee engagement and support the company’s exciting growth plans.”

Founded in 1938, the bakery began as a tripe shop before the Second World War, before attracting the attention of mill workers when it started selling freshly baked pasties.

Bolton Council gave the company a loan in 1975, which continued to help it grow and in 2013, it was passed down to current directors and brothers, Matt, Liam and Joe Carr.

The company, whose Carrs Pasties Family Stand sponsors Bolton Wanderers FC, launched a nationwide delivery service in 2020, and recently received planning to convert a former G4S building at the back of its current premises into new headquarters and offices.

Matt Carr, director at Carrs Pasties, said: “We chose Howarths because they’re a family-run business with a wealth of practical and commercial experience working on the job with growing SMEs.

“We’re looking forward to working with the team as we push forward with some exciting growth plans over the next few years.”