Read: Sodexo partners with Rt Hon Justine Greening to play a key role in levelling up

Food services and facilities management company Sodexo has partnered with former Education Secretary Justine Greening to play its role in levelling up Britain in the wake of COVID-19. 

The partnership will include the development of an Opportunity Action Plan to set out Sodexo’s commitment to level up Britain.

Angela Halliday, Director of Social Impact at Sodexo

Sodexo has joined a growing number of businesses and universities in the Purpose Coalition, which brings together those who are leading the drive on the twin challenges of levelling up and reaching net zero.

The Purpose Coalition sits alongside the Social Mobility Pledge, co-founded in 2018 by Rt Hon Justine Greening and UK entrepreneur and philanthropist, David Harrison, which works to encourage businesses to play a strategic role on how they create opportunities to help level up Britain.

Earlier this month the Purpose Coalition launched a set of ‘Levelling Up Goals’, providing Britain’s first levelling up architecture to focus efforts on driving equality of opportunity at key life stages, from early years through to careers, alongside the barriers to opportunity such as closing the digital divide, health and wellbeing, and infrastructure for opportunity. 

These 14 Goals will provide a universal benchmark to track progress and enable the public to clearly see the individual and collective effort of businesses and universities. 

Former Education Secretary and Social Mobility Pledge co-founder, Rt Hon Justine Greening, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be working with Sodexo as part of the Purpose Coalition. A big part of the work we do is sharing best practice and Sodexo is already demonstrating this with some of its brilliant work around diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity. 

“The challenge now is for businesses and universities to step up and play their role in boosting opportunity and social mobility as the country recovers from COVID-19. Businesses that are purpose-led and have a strong culture are leading the way in this area and others must follow. 

“I’m looking forward to working with Sodexo on their Opportunity Action Plan. They are a great example of a company with leaders committed to making a difference and I hope many others will follow their example."

As part of the wider Purpose Coalition, Sodexo will also be involved with other leading businesses and universities in developing and sharing new ideas and projects to have maximum purpose-led impact. Sodexo will measure its impact on the ground by using the Levelling Up Goals architecture, joining other leading businesses including Direct Line Group, Pennon Group and Persimmon.

Angela Halliday, Director of Social Impact at Sodexo, said: “Sodexo is delighted to be partnering with Justine and the Purpose Coalition.  We have long been an advocate of the importance of businesses working together to boost opportunity and social mobility across the UK and we are committed to creating a lasting impact for our communities and individuals.”