In a bold move reshaping the future of hospitality recruitment, Catering Services International (CSI) has transitioned to full employee ownership through an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), ensuring that every member of its team now shares in the success they have helped build.
From 01 October 2025, the Bath-headquartered company—operating across 11 regional offices including Oxford—joins the growing number of UK firms embracing the employee-owned model. The decision reflects Founder Andrew Berman’s vision to reward the dedication and loyalty of the team that has driven CSI’s growth for over three decades.
“We are not just a company, we are a community,” says Berman, whose leadership has seen CSI evolve from a small Bath-based startup into an award-winning recruitment powerhouse. “This transition ensures that team members will benefit directly from the value they help create.”
Veteran leaders Sarah Davis, Philip Hobson, and Matthew Stephen will guide the company into this new era, supported by Group Accountant Tanya Booth. Each has risen through the ranks, exemplifying CSI’s culture of nurturing talent and rewarding commitment.
Industry experts have hailed the move as a milestone for the employee-ownership sector, which has grown by 1,640% since 2014. According to Ben Watson of TLT’s Employee Ownership team, the model provides long-term stability, strengthens culture, and enhances employee engagement—key advantages for businesses in competitive markets.
Mark Naughton, Partner at FRP Advisory Trading Limited, added that the transition ensures CSI’s distinctive culture and values remain central while empowering employees to shape its future success.
The shift guarantees CSI’s independence and continuity while preserving the service excellence and innovation that have defined its 35-year legacy. From its origins in a Bath bedsit to offices in Oxford, Bristol, Cardiff, Reading, and beyond, CSI has weathered recessions and pandemics to emerge as one of the UK’s most respected hospitality recruitment agencies.
As CSI opens this new chapter, the move reflects a wider trend toward shared ownership in British business—one that promises stronger engagement, creativity, and collaboration. The company’s new motto feels fitting: “Long live CSI – now owned by the people who make it exceptional.”
