Compass Group UK & Ireland is delighted to announce Deputy Cleaning Manager Emma Nott as its 2025 Be A Star ‘Legend’. Emma received her £10,000 prize during a surprise presentation at the DVLA site where she works in Swansea.
The recognition programme, now in its fourth year, attracted over 2,500 nominations throughout the year, with 320 colleagues chosen as winners. But it was Emma’s exceptional compassion and dedication to her team that ultimately led judges to crown her the overall winner.
Robin Mills, Chief Executive Officer, Compass Group UK & Ireland, surprised Emma at work, presenting her with a certificate and cheque in front of her delighted colleagues and clients.
Emma was nominated for the extraordinary support she provided to two long-serving colleagues – a married couple from her cleaning team – after the husband was diagnosed with illness and admitted into long-term care. Emma immediately arranged flexible working, helped her access financial support from the company’s Helping Hands scheme and provided ongoing emotional and practical assistance. She also organised a team collection for a food hamper, raised additional funds to ease financial pressures and made herself available day or night as a source of comfort and support.
Emma is employed by ESS Government, a specialist provider of foodservice and facilities management to high-profile sites across central government, police and secure environments, and part of Compass Group UK & Ireland. She was nominated by colleague and line manager Susan Robinson, in the ‘Colleague’ category of the Be A Star programme.
Be A Star recognises colleagues who make a remarkable difference by helping colleagues, delighting customers and supporting communities. Winners are selected across every Compass sector, in frontline roles such as chefs, cleaners, baristas and support teams. Each quarter, stand-out stars receive a certificate, Be A Star pin and £250, as well as a paid day off to enjoy a regional “lunch is on us” celebration with their nominator at a flagship Compass client venue.
An overwhelmed and emotional Emma said: “I’m truly shocked and incredibly grateful. I never expected anything like this – I just wanted to make sure my colleague had the support she needed. We’re a close-knit team and looking out for each other is what matters most to me.”
Emma’s nominator and Line Manager Susan Robinson said: “Emma is the person everyone turns to – calm, compassionate and completely selfless. The unwavering support she shows her colleagues when they need it most demonstrates exactly who she is. We’re all so proud of her.”
Robin Mills, Chief Executive Officer, Compass Group UK & Ireland, added: “Our colleagues make a real difference to the people and communities they serve every day. I’d like to thank all our frontline teams for everything they do and give special recognition to our 2025 ‘Legend’ Emma Nott. Her quiet strength, generosity of spirit and tireless dedication to others shines as an inspiring example to us all. She is the pride of Compass.”
