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Sodexo UK & Ireland has formed a partnership with Bright Future Co-op, a not-for-profit cooperative, to support survivors of modern slavery find meaningful employment.
Bright Future works with dedicated business members, such as Sodexo, to support survivors of modern slavery rebuild their lives with long-term employment opportunities. Working with its charity partners across the UK Bright Future offers a national matching service for individuals to find employment. When an opportunity arises the individual is offered four-week work placement, which if successful will lead to a non-competitive interview and offer of a permanent role.
In 2023 alone, more than 17,000 victims of modern slavery were identified in the UK, and it is estimated that more than 130,000 people are currently being exploited. Since it was founded in 2021 Bright Future has helped over 100 survivors find safe employment. It has over 30 business members including Co-op, Barnardos, Hope for Justice, The Very Group, Siemens, and Currys.
As an employer of more than 30,000 people in the UK and Ireland Sodexo has the power to make a difference and is committed to opening doors for those facing barriers to employment and championing fair access to skills, learning and meaningful work for all. This new partnership reaffirms its leadership in driving social mobility.
Thomas Williams, Bright Future Co-operative Manager said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Sodexo as a new member of Bright Future. Its commitment to fair hiring and meaningful support will help create genuine pathways into work and lasting stability for people who have experienced exploitation.”
Sodexo is the first in its industry to join the co-op reaffirming its commitment to using business as a force for good and helping advance its ambitious goals as laid out in its Social Impact Pledge 2030.
Through its collaboration with Bright Future Sodexo will set a benchmark for ethical employment practices in the food and facilities management services industry and open up opportunities for survivors of exploitation to find employment at one of the thousands of workplaces Sodexo serves across the UK & Ireland.
Bill Buchan, HR Director, Sodexo UK & Ireland said: “This new partnership is a natural extension to our work in tackling modern slavery and a chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by it. Joining Bright Future is a proud moment for us and a powerful step forward in our commitment to social justice.
“By opening up employment opportunities within our business and providing wraparound support we look forward to helping individuals rebuild their lives and realise their potential. This partnership aligns perfectly with our ambition to drive social mobility and create lasting change in the communities we serve.”
Sodexo is driving cross-industry collaboration as pioneer and member of the BSA Modern Slavery Council and through its Modern Slavery Supplier Forum which it established in 2021 bringing together its supply partners of all sizes every six months to highlight new risks, share best practice and agree common commitments and training needs.
The way we work has changed – yet, many organisations are still relying on rigid, one-size-fits-all tools to manage desks and meeting rooms, according to a new study from workplace management solutions provider, Matrix Booking.
Spreadsheets, calendars, and generic booking software may have worked once, but they’re struggling to keep pace with today’s flexible, hybrid workforce. The result? Wasted time, frustrated employees, and expensive underutilised space.
Matrix Booking’s new study, ‘One-size-fits-all booking systems don’t work for today’s workforce’, explores why current systems are falling short – and how organisations can reimagine workspace management to boost efficiency, employee experience, and cost savings.
To download your FREE copy click here.
