We're One of the Top 30 Best Places To Work for in UK Hospitality
At Real Food Cafe, we have always strived for excellence in every aspect of our business. We've received numerous awards for our fish & chips, delightful homebaking and our exceptional customer service. And today, we've added a new accolade to our list, one that required exceptional leadership and involved culture change.
We have been named the 24th best employer in the UK hospitality sector by The Caterer, a weekly UK business magazine for hospitality professionals.
This coveted list recognizes outstanding employers who go above and beyond in creating a positive workplace culture and nurturing their employees' professional growth. The selection process involves surveying over 12,000 hospitality employees across the UK, making it an extensive and comprehensive evaluation of the sector.
Our Cafe achieved a score of 92% after our employees answered a series of questions on what is important to staff and how employers deliver on those priorities.
You can read more about our endeavour to become the best possible employer in this blog post.
The award was presented to us at The Caterer People Summit in London on 18th May 2023.
We are so proud that our dedication to creating a positive and fulfilling work environment has paid off. We have worked hard to build our reputation by taking care of our team, suppliers and focusing on authenticity; being kind, working hard and building a strong culture of warmth, friendliness, and inclusivity.
This recognition is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our team and reinforces our position as a trailblazer in the field. We are thrilled to share this exciting news with you and express our gratitude to everyone who has contributed to our success.
Real Food Cafe - Crossing Borders
As we celebrate this remarkable achievement, we take pride in being the first and only ex Little Chef, fast food, Fish & Chip cafe to have secured a spot on The Caterer's esteemed list.
The top 30 ranking typically consists of high-end London-based hotels, making our presence as a rural Scottish establishment all the more remarkable.
Representing Scotland on the UK stage in an industry that is both challenging and crucial to our rural economy is an honor that we deeply cherish.
The People Behind Our Success
This award goes to the unwavering dedication and exceptional leadership of our co-owner Alan McColm, along with our Operations Director, Charles Mair.
They have diligently spearheaded the people side of our business, fostering a positive work culture and championing meaningful change. Their strategic approach and commitment to creating an inclusive and empowering environment have earned us this remarkable recognition.
A Journey of Progress
While we are incredibly proud of our accomplishments, we recognize that our journey is far from over. We are committed to continually improving our practices and fostering an even more inclusive and rewarding work environment.
Looking Ahead - #HospitalityUnlimited
The Real Food Cafe's recognition as the 24th best employer in the UK hospitality sector bolsters our optimism and strengthens our resolve to create a lasting impact.
We hope that this success will aid our owner's (Sarah's), Hospitality & Tourism, Recruitment & Retention project called #HospitalityUnlimited which recently suffered a setback after an unsuccessful bid for levelling-up cash from the Shared Prosperity Fund.
The Hospitality Unlimited project aims to provide a training and rewards platform to help businesses attract staff in light of a people shortage that has become acute since Covid and Brexit.
The shortages evidently affect our industry and yet there doesn’t seem to be anyone with any power that is even talking about this, never mind supporting it.
Thank you to The Herald Scotland for helping us raise awareness of the issues the hospitality industry faces:
Tyndrum tourist spot scoops prestigious honour
