BET job cuts mark new era

Junior management redundancies at BET Catering Services signal a move to refocus the company on winning business in hitherto unchartered areas, the company claimed this week.

Up to 20 junior management jobs across the business have gone, but the company denied the losses were a cost-cutting exercise. It said it needed to ensure management was structured in the best way to further grow the business.

BET's marketing director, Belinda Coles, told Caterer: "We are making minimal redundancies to ensure the structure of the company is right."

The company was about to start a recruitment drive, Ms Coles revealed, and intended to bring in people who would particularly strengthen its business development division.

"We want to move into new commercial areas of contract catering where contractors haven't operated before and new niche markets," Ms Coles said.

In an internal memorandum to management earlier this week, chief executive Jim Walker asked for support for the changes and added: "The changes to the management structure of the company that your divisional head will take you through this week will establish BET Catering Services as a totally focused organisation."