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Redefining the workplace

Why food and hospitality matter more than ever.

As hybrid working becomes the norm, the office is no longer a default destination, it’s a choice. For businesses looking to attract teams back in, Leesman’s latest findings offer a powerful reminder: if the workplace doesn’t work for people, it doesn’t work at all.

Leesman’s ‘Power of Place’ report identifies four essential areas that define great workplaces:

- Pride and image
- Privacy and concentration
- Community and collaboration
- Enjoyable experience

At BM Caterers, we believe that food and hospitality aren’t just nice-to-haves within these pillars, they’re essential. In fact, we see catering as one of the most effective tools companies have to create a workplace that’s genuinely worth the commute.

From place to experience

The Leesman Index has long measured how well workplaces support the people who use them. But as their new report shows, the bar has been raised. Employees now judge workplaces not just on function, but on feel. The office needs to offer a compelling experience that matches or beats what’s available at home.

And that’s where we come in. Through a carefully designed food and hospitality offer, we help workplaces create:

- A sense of welcome from the moment guests arrive
- Social spaces that spark collaboration and connection between employees
- Healthier, more energised teams through more nutritional food choices
- Special moments that build culture and loyalty

As Maslow’s hierarchy of needs reminds us, we all require more than just the basics to thrive at work. Food satisfies a fundamental physiological need, but a great food and drink experience goes further. It fosters belonging, supports wellbeing, and contributes to a sense of recognition and value. In short, it helps meet the emotional and social needs that drive motivation and engagement.

Food as a catalyst for community

One of the most striking findings for me from Leesman’s research is that only 57% of hybrid workers agree their office enables them to collaborate easily. That’s a huge missed opportunity.

Shared food spaces are powerful. Whether it’s a barista who remembers your name or a communal table where spontaneous chats happen, the right environment encourages the kind of casual collisions that spark ideas and strengthen teams.

And for clients with multiple floors and divisions, we’ve seen first-hand how a vibrant hospitality space brings people together.

Supporting the UK’s top-rated workplace

We’re proud to be part of the success story of one of the highest-ranking UK companies on the Leesman Index. Their workplace in London demonstrates what happens when a forward-thinking business invests in every detail of the employee experience, including the food.

Our team delivers more than just meals. We’ve created a destination within a destination: an energising space where the hospitality offer reflects the care, quality and professionalism of the wider workplace. From thoughtful menus that balance indulgence and wellbeing, to sustainable sourcing and outstanding barista coffee, the catering plays a clear role in shaping how employees feel about coming to work.

The ‘why’ behind the workplace

Leesman’s Redefining the Workplace for the Future article calls out a critical shift: from designing workplaces for work to designing them for people. It’s a subtle but profound difference, and one we see playing out across our client sites.

Catering may not be the reason someone comes to the office, but it’s often the reason they stay, connect, and return. It’s the backdrop to team huddles, celebrations, one-to-ones and thinking time. It creates rhythms in the day and shapes the personality of the workplace.

As the report puts it: “To be future-ready, workplaces must prove they’re worth the journey.” At BM we couldn’t agree more.

What next?

We believe catering has a strategic role to play in the future of work, and we’re proud to partner with clients who see it that way too. From sustainability and wellness to retention and recognition, food touches more parts of the employee experience than it often gets credit for.

And as businesses reassess their space and strategy, we’d love to be part of that conversation. Because the best workplaces don’t just function – they energise people. They recognise that food and hospitality meet more than just physical needs: they support community, wellbeing, and the deeper psychological drivers of satisfaction and performance.

If you’re exploring how to make your workplace truly worth coming in for, we’d love to talk.

Get in touch