Sodexo unveils Barista Collective 

Sodexo UK & Ireland has launched its Barista Collective training programme, bringing together more than 20 coffee champions from across Sodexo’s business to create a culture of craft, collaboration and community focused on delivering exceptional coffee experiences. Each has completed an intensive Train the Trainer programme, equipping them to deliver new Level 1 and Level 2 barista training courses across the organisation.

• Level 1 provides a strong foundation for both new and existing baristas, focusing on essential skills and operational excellence.
• Level 2 builds on this knowledge, offering a deeper exploration of coffee as a product and craft, including bean selection, processing methods, roasting, sensory development and advanced brewing techniques.

In an industry-first Sodexo has partnered with HIT Training to launch a Barista & Hospitality Excellence apprenticeship, an eight-month programme which combines technical barista expertise with the skills to deliver service excellence, professionalism and the confidence to build a meaningful career in hospitality.

Sodexo serves more than nine million cups of coffee each year across around 300 of its client sites in the UK and Ireland, making coffee a key part of its everyday guest experience.

Julian Weresch, Head of Coffee & Franchises at Sodexo UK & Ireland, said: “The Barista Collective is much more than a training programme. Built around three core pillars – craft, collaboration and community, the programme has been designed to support and empower our baristas.  It represents a shift from viewing coffee training as a technical requirement to recognising it as a critical part of the guest experience, helping turn everyday transactions into meaningful, personalised interactions and memorable experiences for our guests.”