Harwell is a leading science and innovation campus in the UK, and is planning for thousands more people to join its community, a collaboration between government, academia and industry working to accelerate the rate of global innovation.
Currently, 7,000 scientists and engineers work at over 250 organisations on-site at Harwell, and this workforce is expected to double by 2028. Eurest, experts in workforce food and beverage services, will continue its partnership, supporting growth, recruitment, and employee wellbeing while contributing to Harwell's expanding amenities and services.
Eurest’s partnership with Harwell has transformed campus food and beverage services, aligning with Harwell’s growth goals. With an 8-year, £1.8m phased investment plan, we prioritise flexibility to meet evolving needs while enhancing services location by location.
Our investment focuses on state-of-the-art kitchen equipment, a new dark kitchen with onsite delivery technology, upgraded retail outlets, and improved facilities, alongside technology and team development. By offering strategic support, Eurest helps drive Harwell’s long-term success with a clear vision for growth and innovation.
Harwell’s growth requires efficient, future-proof infrastructure. By leveraging modern technology, we streamline operations and align with Harwell’s culture of innovation. Alongside their vision for growth and master planning, we invest in staff training and career development to ensure service excellence, high retention, and long-term success as the campus expands, serving as a trusted partner in their journey.
Our parent company, Compass Group UK&I, partnered with Mintel for the "Power of Socialisation" survey, exploring how workplace socialisation impacts belonging, goal alignment, and productivity among 30,000 office workers and students across 21 countries, including 2,000 participants from the UK.
At Harwell, we've embraced these insights, introducing collaborative zones that foster teamwork and cater to diverse needs. The result? Increased traffic, employee satisfaction, and spaces that promote connection, creativity, and lasting experiences.
Building a number-one team is not easy, especially in an industry facing a staffing crisis. With 37% of UK employers reporting “hard-to-fill” vacancies and 29% expecting hiring challenges by 2025, talent is hard to come by.
With 50 years of trusted partnerships and a 99% client retention rate, Eurest excels at building strong teams. In Oxford’s competitive job market, we’ve retained staff through flexible hours and cross-training, ensuring efficient operations and scalability. Jenna Bough a 'Be a Star' award winner, exemplifies this approach. Joining via TUPE, she was promoted to Café Manager of Lightbox, where her adaptability transformed the café into a thriving amenity on campus. Her success highlights Eurest’s commitment to talent development and effective leadership.
Sam Michell, Contract Director, Harwell Campus, added: “We’re in our infancy within this partnership, only approaching year two of the contract but already we have seen so much exciting development. By aligning our goals with Harwell’s vision, we look forward to collaborating on sustainability initiatives and community engagement. As more research organisations and tech companies join Harwell, Eurest will continue to tailor its offerings, from grab-and-go options to full-service catering, to meet the evolving needs of our diverse community at Harwell"
Paul McSweeney, Director at Harwell Science and Innovation added: “Eurest has become an important part of our success at Harwell. Their support and insights from their Power of Socialisation report have helped us better understand our members’ needs ensuring we provide a diverse mix of food and beverage options at Harwell”
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