About The Brookwood Partnership

Most managers at this independent schools' caterer are also chefs, so they are working in the kitchens with their teams most of the time. People feel they are excellent role models. They are in a good position to respond quickly to signs of someone under too much pressure and hold regular meetings known as “The Break”, a special time for everyone to sit down and talk. Managers carry out inductions for new starters, and then appraisals twice yearly, where they recommend training so people can fulfil their potential. Twice a year, they give out reward vouchers for good attendance, they recommend people for competitions, and always show appreciation for a job well done. Managers ensure that overtime is reserved for special events and people finish on time, recognising many employees are parents and work hours to meet their home life demands. They also encourage employees to watch Brookwood TV, and ensure communications go out to their teams through regular meetings. Managers get involved in company-wide initiatives such as Foodie Group, and the environmental Planet Matters, so they have the bigger picture and share their knowledge

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Brookwood offers term time only contracts to a high proportion of employees, and this ensures they have a good work/life balance, particularly helping parents work. People say it really does help them find the right balance and stops the job interfering with responsibilities at home. Managers get private health care, and senior managers also have psychiatric cover to mitigate the risk of stress. People don’t feel their health is suffering because of work or believe they are under too much pressure to perform well. It probably helps that there’s a defined school dinner time, because employees say work deadlines are realistic too.

Sponsoring beehives is among the more unusual environmental initiatives at Brookwood. The company has a Planet Matters Team of people who discuss and implement new initiatives, running vegetable and herb plots, using local suppliers, fairly traded products and refillable water bottles. There’s a Waste Less programme to reduce and monitor food wastage and last year the firm had a Planet Matters Day. Every single one of its catering operations in schools – all 96 of them – took part, planning a day to raise awareness that the planet matters to it, its schools, and pupils who eat in its restaurants. They helped pupils grow herbs and vegetables for the kitchens, and encouraged them to reduce food waste and drink tap water in reusable, not plastic bottles. People say it genuinely cares about the environment. More than a third of employees got involved with charitable activities in work time last year, and the firm supports the charities Build Africa, Magic Breakfast and Springboard. It encourages people to do their bit.