Colleagues
Our policy in relation to our colleagues is to provide equality of opportunity in relation to recruitment and promotion, a modern, safe and clean environment to work in at our stores, distribution centres and our transport operations and to ensure that all colleagues are treated with dignity and respect. We also have a number of detailed supplementary policies relating to our terms and conditions of employment and workplace matters. These policies are designed to ensure that we provide appropriate safeguards and practices for the benefit of all colleagues throughout our business, and to ensure compliance with relevant legislation.
Through these policies, we are able to support the ongoing growth of the business. The Group employs over 38,000 people across our three businesses, in roles covering stores, distribution and support centres. Attracting new and retaining existing colleagues as our operations expand remains crucial to the continued success of the Group and so we retain a strong focus on colleague development, wellbeing and reward.
Colleague progression: By providing development opportunities for home grown talent wherever possible, we believe that the business benefits over the longer term as our culture and values are maintained and reinforced through the continuity of ‘B&M people’ growing with the business. Our well-established “Step Up” career development programme saw a further 91 existing colleagues promoted to store manager or deputy manager positions last year, and over 80% of all such positions were internal promotions from within the business.
Reward: We reward our store managers and supervisors through an annual bonus scheme. This scheme is kept simple and transparent, with just 4 metrics designed to be stretching and motivating for the store teams. These metrics are fully aligned to ensuring our stores deliver the best possible shopping experience to our customers. In recognition of the hard work and commitment shown by over 24,000 store and distribution colleagues once again in FY22, we awarded a discretionary bonus of an additional week’s pay in January 2022, allowing them to share in the success of the business.
Diversity & Inclusion: Our equal opportunities policies are also designed to recognise and actively encourage the benefit of having a diverse workforce across our business which is inclusive of all types of diversity as well as gender. We look to ensure that all colleagues are treated fairly and with respect, and that no employee is discriminated against on grounds of gender, race, colour, religion, disability or sexual orientation. Our overall aim is to ensure that B&M is recognised as a responsible employer providing all colleagues with a great place to work.
