Samuel's interchangeable skills for success

Ugandan-trained lawyer Samuel Obura worked on a hospital helpdesk for Sodexo when he came to the UK, as his legal qualifications were not recognised in this country. But he was quickly noticed by managers as he was advising colleagues on how to mount appeals over their personal council tax payments.

Now, following a successful 14-year career with Sodexo, he was worked his way up to Compliance Manager at Queen Mary’s Hospital, in Roehampton, southwest London.

Samuel, 43, says:

"I have been very lucky. Sodexo is a great company that really invests in people and I have been able to go on many training courses."

“And while I wasn’t able to practice law in the UK, being a compliance manager certainly puts to use my skills."

Samuel, who lives in Staines, Surrey, was born in the Ugandan capital of Kampala, but moved to the rural northern district of Lira.

His father was a police commissioner and he moved his family to the countryside to keep them safe during the turbulent times following the overthrowing of the brutal military dictator Idi Amin.

At the age of 11, Samuel moved back to the city to continue his education then did a law degree at the University of Makerere. He finished that in 2003 and completed the Ugandan equivalent of a legal practice course.

He then decided to go to London in 2005 to do a master’s degree in law at Kingston university. To help fund this, he landed a job as a clerk at a barrister’s chambers.

Samuel says: “After this, my initial job with Sodexo was at Queen’s Hospital. I was working as a helpdesk operative, taking calls and passing jobs to porter teams.

“Before that, I was working with a barrister in north London. I have a legal background but no UK legal qualification.

“When I joined Sodexo I could hear people saying I was a lawyer and that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I started helping people for free at the helpdesk on private issues such as council tax or tenancy disputes. Word obviously got around.

“I continued doing it at no charge as it meant I could keep thinking legally. I was asked to join the Hard FM team as I had built a very good rapport with them and the management.

“I then moved to Queen Mary’s Hospital in Roehampton in July 2008 from Queen’s Hospital in Romford. It worked for me as I was living in Hounslow so it was good to start a role on the same side of London.

“During my time there, changes in management meant I acted up in certain tasks and duties as I had a good knowledge and understood the PFI side of the contract.

“In 2013, there was an internal advert for supervisor on the technical team. I am not technical, but the client said I should apply. I said no due to its technical nature. Then, one of our managers took me for a coffee and said, I have been told you are interested in this job.

“He said give me three reasons why I should give you the job. I replied;

"I can give you one reason why I shouldn’t get the job and then give you two reasons why I should get it."

“My first reason was that as it was a technical role and I am not technical so it is not for me. However, the other reasons I gave were that I know the team and that I understand the contract. I was offered the job.

Samuel did that role for four years and managed a team of 12. He also completed a number of training courses to help him manage those teams. Then, in 2020, he was offered work by another employer. When he discussed this with his director, he was told he did not want him to go.

Samuel says: “He asked me what I would want to do, and I told him about my legal background and my strong knowledge of PFI and the contract. There was a need for a compliance manager and he offered me that role.

"Sodexo is a fantastic employer as they help with your training and help with your progression."

At the site, I am at the nearest role to my legal background and that is good. The way Sodexo encourages upskilling and investment in people is really good - when I speak to people elsewhere, I realise just how much training we offer. 

Find out more about a career at Sodexo