Team size:  Globally the team is made up of around 240 people, comprising lawyers, compliance and governance professionals, with a team of 28 at the head office in Chertsey, Surrey 

Can you sum up the team culture/ethos in one sentence? 

Alison Yapp, the group general counsel and company secretary, leads a global, multi-disciplinary team of around 240 people comprising lawyers, corporate governance, and compliance experts. A team of 28 professionals supports Compass Group and its affiliates, based in Chertsey, Surrey, with the remainder of the team embedded in the businesses. People are at the heart of Compass’ business, with over 550,000 colleagues globally; the Legal and Company Secretariat function embodies the Group’s caring, winning culture. The ethos of the Legal and Company Secretariat team is strategic and focus- driven through a commitment to excellence, teamwork and proactivity.  The team takes ownership of problems and solutions, making the team accessible and helpful across all aspects of the business, not just on legal issues. These efforts reflect a culture that is aligned with the business strategy and embodies the spirit of Compass Group. 

Apart from legal matters, has the team worked on other company initiatives? 

The legal team has played a critical role in the establishment, launch and ongoing operational success of The Compass Group Foundation. The Foundation is an independent charity launched last year to provide grants to charitable and non-profit organisations in the communities in which Compass’s businesses operate.  Grants are provided to increase access to job opportunities for disadvantaged groups in the food service and hospitality sector and to support market access for smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs in the food supply chain. The Foundation also provides urgent support in the case of global emergencies.  

The Foundation and its trustees are subject to charity law, company law and regulatory oversight by The Charity Commission.   In addition to the specialist legal advice and support necessary to properly establish and register the Foundation early on, the Compass Group in-house legal team has continued to support all areas of the Foundation’s operating activities.  This ranges from policy development and compliance, support and attendance at trustee meetings and trustee training, establishing robust third-party due-diligence systems and processes, formulating standard-form grant-award documentation, company secretarial support and liaising with the Foundation’s auditors, The Charity Commission, tax advisors and other bodies.  All this is essential to ensure that the Foundation satisfies its primary public benefit objective, remains independent to the business and meets its grant-making priorities.