The number of employees in the UK contract catering market (calculated as full-time equivalents) grew by 0.9% to 115,255 in 2007, up from 114,246 the previous year.
However, the latest survey from the British Hospitality Assoociation reveals that the number of full-time equivalent staff (which counts two part-time workers as one full-time worker) has dropped by more than 9% since the 127,445 recorded in 2002.
During the same five-year period, sector turnover has grown by 7.6%, from £3.69b to £3.97b, and wage costs by 11% from £1.6b to £1.79b.
The total number of staff (counting full-time and part-time workers separately) grew by 2% in 2007 to 149,201, with the number of part-timers continuing to grow at the expense of full-time staff.
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The average salary for full-time equivalent staff has grown by 19% since 2002 to £14,993, up from £12,632 five years before.
Labour costs range from 38% to 56% of total turnover, with an average of 45%.
Contract catering as a whole employs 180,000 full-time and part-time staff, of which companies participating in the survey represent 80% of the total workforce.
These facts and figures are reported in the Food and Service Management Survey 2008, published by the British Hospitality Association. The report is available for £50 as a hard copy or for £35 as a PDF file.
More facts and figures from the Food and Service Management Survey
UK contract catering turnover >>
Number of meals served by UK contract caterers >>
Key ratios in contract catering >>
Types of catering contract >>
Structure of the UK contract catering market >>
Number of staff employed in the UK food and service management market
| |
Full-time |
Part-time |
Casual* |
Total number of staff |
Number of full-time equivalent staff** |
Number of FT-equivalent staff per outlet |
| 2007 |
81,310 |
67,891 |
100,000 |
149,201 |
115,255 |
6.5 |
| 2006 |
82,186 |
64,121 |
100,000 |
146,307 |
114,246 |
6.6 |
| 2005^ |
83,304 |
67,183 |
100,000 |
150,487 |
116,895 |
6.9 |
| 2004 |
90,251 |
66,021 |
100,000 |
256,272 |
123,261 |
6.7 |
| 2003 |
91,444 |
68,967 |
100,000 |
260,411 |
125,927 |
6.7 |
| 2002 |
93,250 |
68,391 |
100,000 |
261,641 |
127,445 |
6.6 |
| 2001 |
90,645 |
66,547 |
100,000 |
257,192 |
123,918 |
|
| 2000 |
95,893 |
56,513 |
100,000 |
252,406 |
124,149 |
|
| 1999 |
95,000 |
54,936 |
100,000 |
249,936 |
122,468 |
|
| 1993 |
92,455 |
25,293 |
100,000 |
217,748 |
108,874 |
8.1 |
* Estimated
** Full-time equivalents are calculated by counting two part-time employees as the equivalent of two full-time employees
^ The figures have been adjusted to take account of Compass's sale of Select Service Partners in 2006.
