At bartlett mitchell we are famed for bringing creativity and vibrancy to contract catering and the source of this energy is our highly motivated team.
When Wendy Bartlett and Ian Mitchell first set up bartlett mitchell in 1999, they wanted to develop a company that valued and focused on its employees and who in turn, were proud to work for the company.
The company boasts an exceptional track record of steady growth, currently operating forty five contracts in London and the South East, with a team in excess of 220.
Our business portfolio incorporates clients in sectors including city banks and securities, the pharmaceutical industry, private education, visual communications and media, Government support organisations, research institutes and engineering. We operate traditional staff restaurants through to the more contemporary bistros, cafes, coffee bars, deli bars and juice bars, as well as handling executive dining facilities, hospitality services, conference catering and vending services.
We are proud to be one of the only companies in contract catering to employ a Creative Director, David James, whose main responsibility is to sprinkle a certain ‘wow’ factor on every contract bartlett mitchell handles. David is there to make sure team members have the right support, motivation and resources to create that difference to enhance their own work life.
In the same way that every client is regarded individually, so is each employee. We welcome each new starter with their own ‘Walkabout book’. This encourages them to instantly orientate themselves with their new environment and tells them everything they need to know about the company - even every director’s mobile phone number! Once a month all new starters are brought together, to get to meet the company.
As well as offering competitive pay and flexible benefits such as bonuses, health care and pensions. We also enjoy two big parties annually and have a company apartment in Spain which is part of the long service recognition plan. Of those who completed last year’s annual employee opinion survey -100% said that they enjoyed working for us.
As the company grows we are keen to maintain our whacky edge and individuality and we even have a ‘Growing Pains’ agenda item at our Board meetings. This is to check that everyone is still enjoying life and being supported as the company continues to grow.
In addition to the legislative aspects of food hygiene training, we are also teaching our staff nutrition awareness. This is something that they can utilise not only in the workplace, but also in their home lives. We have found it especially useful, particularly for our education clients.
Training is paramount at bartlett mitchell, as is having fun! We have adopted and personalized the FISH philosophy from the highly regarded course which originated in the Seattle Fish Market. In essence, it recognises that most people want to bring their wholehearted self to work, to develop their own identity and to be accountable for their contribution to the big picture. In other words, they want to enjoy the huge part of their lives that they spend at work.
We passionately believe that if our employees are enjoying their work, they in turn will create a vibrant atmosphere where our customers will enjoy spending time and dining, which is a win, win for everyone!