Sodexo UK & Ireland has been recognized in the top 75 of the 2024 Social Mobility Employer Index, announced today by the Social Mobility Foundation.
Sodexo is the first company in its industry to be included in this Index, which evaluates UK employers on their efforts to eliminate barriers to employment and enhance socioeconomic diversity within the workplace. Established in 2017, the Index has become the benchmark for employer-driven social mobility. The 2024 edition marks its eighth year, with 150 organizations participating, representing nearly a million employees.
With a workforce exceeding 30,000 in the UK and Ireland, Sodexo prioritizes its people and is dedicated to fostering equitable opportunities, embracing diversity, and creating inclusive environments where everyone can thrive.
Mark Goodyer, HR Director for Sodexo UK & Ireland, stated, “This is the first year we have ranked in the top 75, and we plan to leverage this recognition to maintain our leadership in social mobility, making tangible progress in areas such as recruitment, pay, career advancement, and advocacy.”
He added, “As an employer of over 30,000 people, we believe we can drive social mobility and act as a positive force. Socio-economic diversity is crucial to the success of any organization. We understand that a diverse workforce enhances the services we offer to clients and ensures our teams reflect the communities we serve.”
Sodexo has been a longstanding advocate for employment-based education opportunities, committing to consider all job vacancies for apprenticeship roles whenever feasible. The focus extends beyond merely increasing the number of positions to making a substantial impact on social mobility, particularly by reaching out to underrepresented areas and communities.
The company’s early careers initiatives have successfully welcomed individuals from diverse backgrounds and age groups, each contributing unique skills. One example is its sustained partnership with DFN Project SEARCH, a program that provides internships for students with learning disabilities and autism, offering valuable work experience and skill development. Last year, over 100 young people completed internships with Sodexo through this initiative.
Additional initiatives include:
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Starting Fresh: A program aimed at highlighting the potential talent from ex-offenders. With over three decades of experience managing prisons, Sodexo helps employers recruit qualified individuals from this often-overlooked group. In its first year, the program successfully placed 700 prison leavers into sustainable jobs across various organizations, including Sodexo.
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Choose Hospitality Pledge: Collaborating with Nestlé Professional, Sodexo is attracting young talent to the hospitality industry through career workshops at Sodexo Live! venues. This past summer semester, around 250 secondary school students participated in these workshops.
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10,000 Black Interns program: Demonstrating its commitment to equitable opportunities, Sodexo joined this initiative in early 2023 to support underrepresented talent. Out of the 24 interns from the previous year, six have continued with Sodexo. This year, 40 interns are engaged in a six-week program with the company.
- The Switch Project: In partnership with the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation and the charity Switch, 90 primary school students participated in a Business Enterprise Employability program in 2023. This initiative enhances their financial literacy and confidence, equipping them with skills to combat food insecurity. Sodexo volunteers contributed 143 hours to this program, which received a grant from the Stop Hunger Foundation. The initiative was recognized at the 2024 Social Mobility Awards, winning silver in the Community Project of the Year category.
Sodexo aims to positively impact the communities it serves. Since 2015, it has published an ethical manifesto alongside its social impact strategy to drive meaningful change.
In June 2024, Sodexo released its Social Impact Report detailing progress against the commitments outlined in its 2021 Social Impact Pledge. To commemorate the tenth anniversary of its initial commitments, Sodexo UK & Ireland is set to unveil a new social impact pledge in 2025, focusing on delivering tangible and impactful changes.
