Last week, Sodexo UK & Ireland earned recognition at three esteemed industry awards. At the People Awards, it won the Employer Brand title, while at the Inclusion in EDI Awards, it received the Stakeholder Award in the EDI Maturity Curve category. Additionally, at the PFM Awards, Henry Gribbin was honored as Account Director of the Year.
People are at the heart of Sodexo’s business, and it is committed to supporting them as much as it can, it is Sodexo’s belief that its people should feel they belong to a company where they can act with purpose and thrive in their own way.
Sodexo received the Employer Brand award at the People Awards for its commitment to authenticity, ensuring that the experience it promises to new recruits is shared by all team members. The company’s employee value proposition emphasises clear career progression plans and robust recognition programs that celebrate achievements across the organisation.
Comments from the judges included: “I loved the clear pillars, how they relate and have had impact. The approach is clearly values led from interview and throughout [employment] leading to higher retention”, and “Really solid entry with a well-defined employee value proposition that was co-created across the business, lives in all stages of the employee journey and is continuously evolving in response to feedback”.
The Inclusion in EDI Awards, powered by WiHTL and DiR, honored organisations, teams, and individuals who have shown outstanding dedication to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) across the Hospitality, Travel, Leisure, and Retail industries.
Sodexo was awarded the Stakeholder Award in the Inclusion in EDI Maturity Curve category and received a highly commended recognition for its DE&I team in the EDI Team of the Year (more than 5,000 colleagues) category.
Sodexo is committed to providing all employees with the best possible work life experience regardless of age, gender, nationality, culture or personal characteristics, and strives to build a diverse and inclusive culture where its people feel valued and respected as individuals.
Sodexo's DEI initiatives are integral to its people strategy, driving positive social impact and supporting a sense of belonging among colleagues. From enhancing benefits to supporting impactful programmes such as the 10,000 Interns Foundation, Sodexo has shown a commitment to not just improving its internal culture but also influencing change across the broader industry.
Mark Goodyer, HR director, Sodexo UK & Ireland said: “We rely on our people. It is our teams on client sites’ that make the true difference; an engaged workforce will deliver excellence in the services they provide. At Sodexo we are committed to creating an employee experience where everyone can bring their whole selves to work, and to ensure that each and everyone of our employees feel empowered and accountable and are given the chance to thrive in their career. To have recognised at both of these awards is a privilege we don’t underestimate.”
Finally, Sodexo is celebrating the success of its colleague, Henry Gribbin, who was named Account Director of the Year at the annual PFM Awards. Henry has served as the account director for Sodexo’s AstraZeneca UK South contract since January 2020, overseeing a team of 300 that delivers catering and soft facilities management services to over 5,000 AstraZeneca employees at various sites across southern England.
Michael Ripley, Head of Customer & Site Services, AstraZeneca UK South, said: 'Henry has played a crucial role in fostering a positive relationship between AstraZeneca and Sodexo since taking on the role of account director. His strategic approach and unwavering dedication have significantly strengthened the partnership between our organisations. Henry's contributions as a leader have been incredibly valuable in solidifying a strong and mutually beneficial relationship.'
Sodexo strives to create significant social value and make a positive difference. As an employer of more than 30,000 people in the UK and Ireland it is committed to inclusive recruitment, training, and employment practices that contribute to greater social mobility and economic prosperity in society.
