Is a family business a family or a business?

It's important for us to focus on Carrs Pasties as a business primarily – supplying a market demand, making money, growing, creating jobs, and making a positive impact.  

But of course, we are much more than that. Our values include the all-important motto "Work as a family" which drives us to forge ever closer relationships with our suppliers, our customers, and – crucially – our staff.  Over 90% of our employees have been working for us for more than five years which we’re really proud of. 

Here are the figures:

55% worked for more than 5 years   

28% worked for more than 10 years   

7% worked for more than 25 years   

1% worked for more than 40 years   

And so, we come to the wonderful manager of our flagship Manchester Road store – Julie Gorse – who has just completed forty-five years at Carrs. My brothers and I have known Julie all our lives. I was three when she joined us, and we have been through many highs and lows together (the lows were mainly us trying to keep up with her as we learned our trade as teenagers – she was one of a few people in our lives that taught us how to graft) and she is an original influence on the aforementioned motto...

"Work as a family"

There are plenty of other articles and statistics about how the modern workplace is a more fluid environment, from a staff retention point of view. It's so easy now to search for and find suitable, flexible jobs: the increase in the freedom that gives employees is a huge positive benefit to society.  

Companies know that recruitment is expensive. On top of the fixed costs of replacing a member of staff, there is also the inevitable dip in productivity while the new people are trained up and settle into their new roles. Staff longevity is obviously preferred and has the effect of a generally increased sense of family and camaraderie in the workplace.  

Visitors to Carrs often report that they find a happy workplace (specifically commenting on the high smile count!). We work hard to keep our people happy. There are many benefits our staff enjoy, including: 

• RJ8 – free mental health and legal advice support service 
• Staff Cash Plan (staff can claim for common health care expenses) 
• Staff savings club 
• Cycle-to-work scheme 

It is also important to provide the company with a clear vision for the future, and a company structure that clearly shows how everyone at Carrs knows what part they must play in achieving our common goals. Respect and trust are also crucial, we have to allow employees to do their roles and do them well, we value our people and know that without them we are just an average business. 

Free pasties might have something to do with it as well...

For us, a family business is simultaneously a family and a business - we have superimposed one over another and over decades the two entities have become their own lovely thing. 

To find out the truth behind our success with staff longevity - get in touch with us, we would be proud to show you around.