Компания Paddy & Scotts получила награду «Работодатель года» за приоритет развития персонала

Paddy & Scotts has built its reputation supplying coffee to hospitality, leisure, travel and retail businesses across the UK – and, more recently, around the globe. But despite operating in a competitive sector dominated by major brands, the Suffolk company insists its success has never really been, first and foremost, about coffee. Instead, it has focused on creating a workplace where people feel valued, trusted and able to build fulfilling careers. “We see ourselves as a people business that just happens to trade coffee,” said Jonathan Reed, CEO and owner. That philosophy has helped shape the company’s growth from an independent Suffolk coffee brand into a national supplier with ambitions that now extend well beyond the UK. READ MORE: Community café supporting adults with disabilities celebrates first birthday Alongside its commercial success, Paddy & Scott’s has developed a reputation for investing in its workforce while maintaining a strong commitment to the coffee-growing communities it works with in Kenya and Brazil. The business underwent a significant moment of change in 2024 when its leadership team completed a management buyout and took full ownership of the company. Rather than focusing solely on growth, the new leadership team placed culture at the centre of its plans. “When we led the MBO in 2024 and took on the business, our overriding priority was to build a company where the team were proud to come to work every day,” Jonathan said. That approach built on work that had already begun several years earlier. Following staff feedback in 2019 that highlighted disengagement and a need for stronger communication and leadership, Paddy & Scott’s began reshaping the way it supported and developed its workforce. Today, employee wellbeing forms part of board-level discussions and traditional performance reviews have been replaced with what the company calls “Head, Heart and Hand” conversations, which place wellbeing and career aspirations alongside performance objectives. The business has also introduced initiatives designed to help employees better understand one another’s roles, alongside investment in training, professional qualifications and wellbeing support. “What really sets us apart is the depth of our commitment to our people and our purpose,” Jonathan said. Paddy & Scott’s reports an employee engagement score of 96%, while staff turnover stands at 12.6%, significantly below the industry average. The company has also placed a strong emphasis on developing talent from within. More than 70% of its leadership team have progressed through the organisation, reflecting its commitment to internal progression and long-term career development. It was that people-first culture that recently earned Paddy & Scott’s the Employer of the Year title, sponsored by Ashtons Legal, at the EADT Business Awards. For the team, the recognition carried particular significance because it reflected the experiences of the people who work within the business every day. “It was an overwhelming sense of pride,” Jonathan said. “To be recognised as a great employer by our own team is the only accolade that really matters to us. “Winning has been a huge boost for morale across the whole team. We have rebuilt the culture here and the team are delighted. “The award is a public recognition of something they already knew and felt, and that has only deepened the pride people take in working here.” READ MORE: Award-winning charity supports green living in Suffolk communities The recognition has also strengthened Paddy & Scott’s reputation as an employer, helping to attract people who share its values and are looking for opportunities to develop their careers. At the same time, the business continues to pursue ambitious growth plans. Earlier this year, Paddy & Scott’s began trading globally for the first time, taking its farmer-focused approach to coffee into new international markets. Yet despite that expansion, the company remains committed to the principles that helped it secure the Employer of the Year award. Its long-term ambitions include continued investment in training, wellbeing and career development, while maintaining support for community education and school meal programmes in coffee-growing regions. “Above all, we want to keep building a company the team are proud to come to work for every day,” Jonathan added. For more information, visit paddyandscotts.shop