Celebrating our people – the Sodexo way 

We celebrate our colleagues in many ways – from daily ‘thank yous’ to glittering events bringing people together from all over the UK & Ireland. Our Spirit of Sodexo and Long Service Awards are long established events that have become the highlights of our reward and recognition programme. 

Spirit of Sodexo Awards

Spirit of Sodexo Awards – the ultimate employee recognition event, celebrating service from individuals and teams who have performed above and beyond their daily roles.

Nominations are submitted – peer to peer – in 18 categories, aligned to Sodexo’s three values of Team Spirit, Spirit to Serve and Spirit of Progress. Our search is region wide and we’re looking for the best of the best in categories including Team of the Year, Positive Impact, Growth and Retention, Rising Star and Excellence in Customer Service.

Special awards include Lifetime Achievement, won in 2025 by Mark Cockburn, who has been keeping classrooms clean at George Watson’s College in Edinburgh for a remarkable 50 years. Mark was chosen for this loyalty, resilience and commitment, and the way he engages with the pupils and always greets people with a smile. 

When colleagues reach employment milestones, we shout about it. Our Long Service Awards are a longstanding tradition and way to celebrate the loyalty of those who have dedicated 20, 30, 40 and 50 years to Sodexo.

This is our chance to say thank you for commitment and hard work over decades, and we like to make colleagues feel special. Long servers are invited to join members of our regional team to reflect on and celebrate their tenure. They enjoy entertainment, a dining experience and receive a gift in recognition of their contribution.

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