Foodservice Cateys 2024: People and Training Award – Murray Soper, BM

BM’s people and talent division is headed by Murray Soper, who has worked for the caterer for 22 years. He oversees the strategic direction of the HR team at the caterer, which has an annual turnover of more than £60m.

Over the past year he has launched a series of initiatives that have clearly paid off and helped to increase BM’s staff retention rate by 16%. These have included a focus on racial equality, which saw him work with an external consultant to outline key improvement areas. These insights led to significant policy changes, with updates made to the company’s bullying and harassment policy and its discrimination policies.

While BM has relatively diverse staff, there is less diversity at managerial levels, which Soper identified as a potential barrier to attracting team members from minority ethnic background and allowing the company to better service its diverse client and customer base.

 
BM has now set ambitious targets to increase representation of employees from mixed and multiple ethnic backgrounds in leadership roles by 2027 to reflect regional demographics.

Under Sopel’s leadership, BM held its first International Women’s Day brunch and networking event, attended Pride as a company for the first time, and had the highest number of team members on apprenticeships or training for NVQs across the wider WSH group in 2023.

In a direct response to employee feedback, Soper made the bold decision to enhance employee benefits, including introducing paid time off for secondary carers, those undergoing fertility treatment and new ‘grandparent leave’. This was designed to better support female and LGBTQ+ colleagues and has had a direct impact on staff retention.

Outside of BM, Soper has worked with charities to encourage more people into the foodservice sector. His role as a Springboard ambassador is a testament to his dedication to supporting the industry and he has delivered inspirational talks about his career path to Springboard participants, including speaking about overcoming personal challenges.

Soper has also spearheaded BM’s work with the Clink, including interviewing inmates at HMP Brixton to provide them with experience and help them secure a job after their release. Soper now ensures BM sends its live vacancy list to the Clink and, as a result, the company has interviewed four people and hired one.

He also develops training programmes with homeless charity Crisis and works with schools to change perceptions of careers in contract catering, including providing samples of dishes made by BM chefs. This dedication to BM and the wider industry is why our judges thought he was a worth winner.

What the judges said

“A clear and personal approach to people and culture.”

Ian Thomas

See previous winners of the award here