The workplace has changed significantly over the last three years.

And it continues to do so.

Many of us went through the challenges of working fully remotely, and now we are beginning to transition back into the office, which comes with its own challenges.

For some employees, coming back into the office can seem daunting or exhausting, but workplace catering can help soften those impacts.

While also bringing several other benefits!

Workplace hospitality will have a major impact on the success of people transitioning back into the office while also attracting high-quality talent and keeping hold of top talent.

As a result, workplace catering has never been more important!

Why is workplace hospitality essential?

Catering fuels collaboration

When you bring high-quality catering to the table, your employees will reciprocate the gesture with new levels of creativity, ingenuity, and collaboration.

Not only will the conversations around the table between employees help trigger new ideas and innovations, but the high-quality food will also help stimulate your employee’s brains, helping them think clearer and more creatively.

Rather than your employees experiencing that all-too-common afternoon slump, workplace catering will allow them to feel revitalised and rejuvenated each afternoon, providing more opportunities for innovative thinking.

Employee happiness and fulfilment

Job satisfaction has never been such a high priority for employees than it is today. Pre-covid, if you asked people what the main motivators for them staying in a job are, it would likely be a mixture of money or career opportunities.

However, the pandemic was an opportunity for most of us to stop and take stock, and many people realised that happiness, wellness, and job satisfaction should be much higher on the list.

One way to ensure your employees get more joy from working for your company is to provide a fantastic workplace catering service.

Whether it be a delicious breakfast menu that allows your staff to get in early before work and catch up with their colleagues or a tasty lunch menu that reinvigorates them for the afternoon ahead, workplace catering is a fantastic way to keep staff happy in the office.

Replacing staff members can be incredibly time-consuming, not to mention costly, especially trying to replace excellent employees, so keeping them satisfied at work is also a great way to reduce these costs and stresses.

Some may think brining in catering adds another layer to their role; however. fortunately for our clients we take that burden away from them. We will create bespoke menus for your office, manage the set up, advertise the offering via signage, intranet portals, emails or Slack channels and take care of the removal and cleaning up. Your employees are happy and so is your operational team!

A strong selling point for spending time in the office

With the advancement of technology and remote work, many people are reluctant to return to the office where possible. 

And for good reasons! There are many benefits to working from home, including reduced time spent commuting, the comfort of working in your own environment, and the ability to execute small jobs around the house in between tasks.

However, collaboration still works best in the office, where people can build relationships,  bounce ideas off each other and work out solutions to some of the company’s most complex tasks.

With the incentive of delicious workplace meals, staff will be more inclined to make the trip into the office and take your business to the next level.

In fact, one employee shared, “I only come in to the office on Thursday’s for Flourish lunches. They’re delicious and because they’re always changing, I’m always surprised. I’m hopeless in the kitchen, so Thursday’s really add some flavour to my week”. 

A USP for talented applicants

A unique selling proposition (USP). Workplace catering doesn’t only benefit your current staff.

It also makes your business a more attractive prospect for new employees, too. 

Businesses are only as good as the people they employ, and high-quality workplace catering is a great way to attract the best of the best. 

Looking from their perspective, not only does workplace catering sound delicious, but it also shows them you care about your staff’s wellbeing, which is likely to incentivise them to apply for any open roles you are advertising.

How to create the best workplace hospitality for your team

Offer high-quality meals

When providing workplace catering, you must ensure the services you acquire are of the highest quality.

By providing delicious and nutritious meals, you show your staff you value them while fueling their brain to maximise productivity and creativity.

At Flourish, we only use the best possible locally sourced produce, ensuring each meal on the menu is highly nutritious, not to mention incredibly tasty! Unlike what is currently out there in the market, we don’t produce meals on bulk that are often made without the care of some of London’s most experienced chefs. Our menus are fully bespoke, and our meals are made fresh same-day. Quality is at the heart of what we do. 

Consistency is key

Offering one-off catering certainly has its benefits, especially around specific events, but to see the true benefits of workplace catering, it must be provided consistently.

That doesn’t mean you need to offer it every day of the working week (although you could if you’re feeling generous!), but having a set couple of days where employees know catering is available will allow them to get into a routine of coming into the office, and planning meetings and brainstorming sessions accordingly.

Themes and events 

Providing workplace catering around specific events or themes is also a fantastic way to bring the entire office together, allowing new relationships to form or solidify. When people feel like they are working with friends, they often work harder for one another, increasing productivity.

Work with the best in the business

At Flourish, we have vast experience helping businesses just like yours with their workplace needs. Whether you want to host a one-off themed event such as the recent King’s Coronation or start offering weekly catering, Flourish has been at the heart of workplace catering for many years, using only locally sourced, seasonal produce to create the tastiest dishes.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help!