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Aramark UK has made health and safety history by becoming the first foodservice and hospitality company to win the prestigious RoSPA Sir George Earle Trophy – the highest honour in the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Health and Safety Awards. This unprecedented achievement forms part of a double success for Aramark UK, which also received the coveted Hotel & Catering Industry Sector Award, further cementing its leadership in safety excellence and marking a significant milestone for the wider industry.
Now in its 69th year and attracting almost 2,000 entries annually from over 50 countries, covering more than seven million employees, the RoSPA Awards are the world’s largest health and safety awards programme. They recognise organisations and individuals who have set the highest standards in accident prevention.
The Sir George Earle Trophy is awarded annually to the organisation that demonstrates the most outstanding performance in health and safety. Aramark UK’s win reflects a deeply embedded safety culture, underpinned by strong leadership driven by Safety Director Fran Collinson, innovative workforce engagement, and a relentless focus on continuous improvement across more than 1,000 client sites and a workforce of over 10,000.
Helen Milligan-Smith, CEO and President of Aramark UK, commented: “This is a proud moment for Aramark UK. Winning the Sir George Earle Trophy is a testament to the dedication of our teams, the strength of our safety-first culture, and our belief that every colleague deserves to go home safe and well every day. We are incredibly honoured to be recognised by RoSPA.” This win places Aramark UK at the forefront of health and safety excellence and highlights the critical role of safety in delivering high-quality services across government, education, healthcare, and workplace environments.
Aramark UK secured this top accolade thanks to its comprehensive, people-first approach to safety, including:
- Exceptional communication processes, including the Safety Leaders Group and weekly “Safety Surgery” sessions, with over 850 regular participants
- Industry-leading allergen management practices and partnerships with organisations such as the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation
- ISO 45001 certification and a five-year trend of improving accident incidence rates, with a 33% reduction since 2022, achieved the highest standards in health and safety in the workplace.
Julia Small, RoSPA’s Growth Director, said: “Aramark UK should be proud of the hard work and commitment to keeping people safe that has resulted in a RoSPA Award, which honours those organisations who have achieved the highest standards in health and safety in the workplace.
“RoSPA regards Aramark UK as a strong example of the importance of making accident prevention central to any successful organisation, not just for the benefit of employees, customers and clients, but also society as a whole.”
