accessibility | skip to navigation | skip to content | skip to search box


NGOs and associations

As a corporate citizen, we contribute to shaping the current and future trends in our industry and society at large in collaboration with key partners. Through our memberships, agreements and collaborations with the third sector, we strive to shape current issues, understand future needs and integrate them in our corporate thinking.


We are committed to learning and sharing good practice in corporate responsibility through membership of:

  • Business in the Community (BITC),
  • Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI),
  • Scottish Business in the Community (SBC)
  • Springboard UK, the hospitality industry charity
  • People 1st, the skills council for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism

Environmental issues
We seek expert advice to help us tackle the environmental issues that affect us all and require joint efforts to be tackled. In March 2010, we signed a worldwide agreement with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to work together globally on environmental and supply chain issues of mutual interest. This has begun with seafood, agricultural commodities, water and energy, and will focus on developing environmental and sustainable supply chain practice. We have a three-year technical advice and assistance agreement to address these and other key areas of the value chain across the globe.

Public debate
We regularly attend events and discussions organised by think tanks and trade bodies that advance public debate and shape public policy:

  • corporate partnership with Reform, a leading non-party think tank focused on public service transformation
  • strategic relationship with the UK Food and Drink Federation
  • participation in the Food Ethics Council's Business Forum
  • membership of Business Service Association (BSA)
  • membership of British Hospitality Association (BHA).

Trade unions
At the end of June 2011, Sodexo became the first in its industry to sign a National Framework Agreement with three of the UK's leading trade unions: Unite, UNISON and the GMB. The agreement defines the nature of the strategic relationship between Sodexo and the three unions, and identifies guiding principles for managers, union representatives and other employees regarding the expectations they may have of each other. The National Framework Agreement is also a public declaration from each organisation, outlining their commitment towards continued joint working and to raise awareness of the genuine, effective and positive relationship between unionised staff and Sodexo.