Supporting Sustainable Growth at Empty Plates Catering Services

Empty Plates Catering Services has been supporting the UK’s food and care sectors for over two decades. Founded in 2000 in Lancashire as an outside catering company, the business quickly began to evolve when clients regularly asked whether Empty Plates could also provide catering staff to support their operations. What started as a food service business naturally grew into a specialist temporary staffing agency, predominantly supplying chefs into environments where food plays a vital role.

Today, Empty Plates Catering Services supplies experienced, reliable relief chefs who can step straight into busy, demanding professional kitchens, maintain standards and provide immediate support to in-house teams. Whether clients need emergency cover, additional support during peak periods, or longer-term placements, Empty Plates works with care homes, hospitals, pubs, restaurants, hotels, contract caterers, garden centres and event venues across the North West and the wider UK. Alongside staffing, the business continues to deliver tailored outside catering for private and corporate events, staying true to its roots.

As the business expanded, so did the volume of staff placed. Like many recruitment businesses, Empty Plates paid its staff weekly while invoicing customers monthly and often waiting a further 30 days for payment. This growing funding gap began to put pressure on cashflow and ultimately held the business back.

The challenge came to a head when Empty Plates won two new contracts that required placing 15 members of staff in a single day.

“We should have been celebrating,” says Anne Lambelin, Director of Empty Plates Catering Services. “But bridging the gap between paying our staff and getting paid ourselves was becoming completely unsustainable.”

Following a recommendation from a friend, Anne explored invoice finance, but early experiences were mixed. One funder was supportive but later closed their business, while another failed to offer the level of service and understanding Empty Plates needed.

“We were too small for some providers, and others just weren’t supportive of our business,” Anne explains. “We had one poor payer of around £6,000. That might be insignificant to a large funder, but to us it really mattered – and they refused to help. That’s when we knew we had to look elsewhere.”

In 2014, Empty Plates joined Pulse Finance, and the difference was immediate.

“Pulse were great from the start,” says Anne. “They did everything they possibly could to make it work instead of just saying no. They’re incredibly supportive. Our account manager is wonderful – always calm, always positive, and always finds a way to make things work for us. We really appreciate that.”

Pulse Finance worked closely with Empty Plates to provide a £150k flexible invoice finance solution that reflected the realities of a growing catering recruitment business.

Siouxsie Ashmore, Head of Operations at Pulse Finance comments: “From day one, it was clear that Empty Plates was a well-run business with strong values and real growth potential. Our role is to support our clients’ ambitions by understanding their challenges and providing funding solutions that genuinely work for them.”

The strength of the partnership became even more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. With many workers understandably reluctant to enter care homes, staff shortages pushed wage rates higher, placing additional strain on cashflow at an already challenging time.

“Catering is a hard job with long, unsociable hours, and during COVID the pressure intensified,” Anne says. “Pulse were there throughout, doing everything they could to support us when we really needed it.”

While market conditions have since stabilised, the confidence gained from having a reliable finance partner remains. Today, Empty Plates Catering Services is a £1 million business with the confidence to pursue new opportunities.

“Pulse do everything they can to support our business,” Anne concludes. “Knowing we can always pay our staff gives us the confidence to go out and win new contracts. Our objective is simple – to maintain a healthy, sustainable business – and Pulse plays a big part in helping us achieve that.”

Siouxsie adds: “Empty Plates is a great example of how the right finance partner can empower a business to grow with confidence. We’re proud to support them and be part of their journey.”