Continuing my career with Sodexo

Michelle Rae has worked at Sodexo for over 19 years in multiple roles. In this blog, Michelle gives us an insight into her career journey from graduate to Account Manager and all the roles in between.

I have worked at Sodexo for over 19 years, and truly don’t know where the time has gone!

I joined Sodexo as an executive trainee, this graduate development programme was the best start and induction into a company anyone can possibly have wished for. Since joining I have held various operational roles in various parts of the business and I am now an Account Manager within Government & Agencies, looking after a diverse portfolio of business throughout the UK with services being delivered that cover the entire spectrum of IFM.

Prior to this I was in Energy & Resources and looked after a portfolio of onshore businesses across the UK and into Europe. Everything featured from tiny cleaning only sites to multi-national global group contracts offering IFM services.

In my time before that I held posts in Scotland and covered a range of client contracts and services, including schools, corporate headquarters, warehouses and production plants, police stations and 5 star hotels.

Sodexo has offered me some exceptional opportunities in my career. My existing post was a lateral move, where I moved to a new segment but stayed in the same job role. However, my breadth of knowledge and understanding of hard services and PFI contracting has been extended through this move, providing me with experience I would not have had exposure to if I hadn’t considered the move.

I have travelled around the UK, Ireland and parts of Europe supporting sales opportunities, delivering training to colleagues, completing internal assessments for Investors in People reaccreditation and had the opportunity to not only be a mentee but also a mentor. I have done team building and charity work in the company that has had me white water rafting, potholing, cliff climbing, and cake bake selling. My learning has continued throughout my 19 years in Sodexo, not only through work activities and working alongside some truly talented people but also in training programmes I have been nominated for and put myself forward for. Physical training programmes have included management development courses (one of which saw me in Singapore and a mentor based in Australia), operations to sales courses, strategy and business conduct as well as professional qualifications in Health, Safety & Environment and others. 

But it hasn’t all been training that has developed me. I have had the opportunity to work alongside others in many forums that have stretched my outlook and knowledge but also supported others or the wider business – things like being part of an engagement committee that gave me stretch in some national project briefs, trialling new systems and equipment, attending conferences and now virtual sessions with senior leaders as a means of networking, testing new initiatives before they are launched to the wider business are just some examples of how Sodexo has supported and developed me while giving me the opportunity to support others.

Of all the things that I can say about Sodexo the one thing that resonates is that its all about people. We have no assets other than those that work in the business and what I believe is that Sodexo always tries to do the right thing by its people and will always support and encourage where individuals want it.

Sodexo has certainly done that for me and through these past 19 years I have had a tremendous amount of fun, got to meet and work with many people, built friendships that transcend beyond the workplace and learnt more than I could possibly have imagined – and all because I took a chance on a company I hadn’t heard of before and then made it known I was willing to learn and hungry for progression.

I am now looking for my next role in the business and see my career continuing in Sodexo for the foreseeable future. I have spoken with my line manager about my potential next move, any development needs to enable me to get into that role, updated my career preferences and profile and networked with people in Sodexo that can support my intentions and ambitions. I would recommend Sodexo as an employer of choice to anyone. 

If you are interested in a career journey with Sodexo, visit our careers page to find out more.