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Sodexo Focuses on Social Impact at Annual Senior Leadership Conference

Purpose Coalition Chair, Rt Hon Justine Greening joined Sodexo in reaffirming its continued commitment to being a purpose driven organisation and creating a positive impact on People, Planet, Places, and Partners at its annual senior leadership conference. The event, held at the iconic Headingley Stadium in Leeds, brought together 150 colleagues from across the UK and Ireland to explore the importance of social impact in today's evolving business landscape.

Justine, joined the conference as the host of a panel discussion that featured prominent business figures. Together, they delved into key themes surrounding social impact, offering valuable insights into the following areas:

• Public and private sector collaboration: The discussion emphasised the critical role of collaboration between the public and private sectors in maximising the creation of social value.

• Challenges in incorporating social value into strategy: Panellists discussed the various challenges organisations face when integrating social value into their core strategies and operations.

• Prioritising social value: The panel highlighted the importance of maintaining a commitment to social value, even during economic downturns or times of crisis.

Speaking at the conference Rt Hon Justine Greening, former Cabinet Minister and Chair of the Purpose Coalition said: "You are all leaders, integral to Sodexo's mission of driving change and creating social value. In today's landscape, the true measure of success lies in delivering purpose, social impact and financial results in harmony.

"Over the coming years we can all expect to see a more collective effort towards social mobility. We're all part of an ecosystem, understanding our place and how we all fit in to collectively move forward. Society and politics are evolving, tackling complex issues like net zero and equality of opportunity. 

“People want change but increasingly they see it coming from outside the political system. Real change means mobilising entire communities, businesses, and employers to invest in championing decisions themselves. It's also about recognising the role that fantastic businesses like Sodexo and others with their own valuable insights can play in driving impactful change. They are part of the solution.  'Growth with purpose' is coming of age. It is  now a clear part of corporate governance, and future governments will likely revisit legislation to emphasise social value, especially in procurement. It's a central expectation for both private and public sectors. 

Businesses like Sodexo are key players in driving authentic social change."

Find out more information about Sodexo and its commitment to social impact via the link below.