Leading services company Sodexo has launched a new integrated facilities management offer for UK state schools.

‘Schools by Sodexo’ brings together an integrated suite of services including premises management, cleaning, grounds maintenance and asset management.  It also includes an updated, modern school food brand - Food & Co. by Sodexo

Sodexo currently works with nearly 200 schools in the state and independent sectors and has over 10 years’ experience delivering integrated facilities services to schools across the UK and Ireland. The new offer is designed to meet the needs of academy trusts and local authorities who are increasingly looking for suppliers who can offer greater standardisation and integration of services across their schools.

The new offer, including Food & Co. by Sodexo will be rolled out to Sodexo’s new and existing state school contracts from 2018.

Matt Garner, Managing Director for Schools, Sodexo commented; “With increased demand for schools places, tougher attainment targets and budget freezes, schools face multiple challenges. The integrated solutions we offer as part of Schools by Sodexo are designed to drive efficiencies and to support schools with non-academic, but sometimes safety critical tasks, freeing up the time and reduce the burden on the academic staff so they can focus on teaching and improving learning outcomes.”

Food & Co. by Sodexo has been developed following research conducted with pupils in key stages 2,3 and 4 (ages 7-16) to understand the type of food they like, as well as why and how they would like to eat it.

The research revealed that pupils have more sophisticated palates than ever before. They also have a strong understanding of restaurant brands and want to eat in a relaxed environment that allows them time and space to connect with friends.

Food & Co. by Sodexo will be supplemented with a suite of added value food services aimed at improving health and education outcomes for children and young people as part of our commitment to improving quality of life.  This will be achieved by working collaboratively to increase the uptake of free school meals  and by maximising  Sodexo’s collective expertise to support schools deliver on their Ofsted ‘healthy school’ and curriculum commitments.

These include standardised, structured evidence based programmes that teach students skills for life, such as a school cookery project where Sodexo’s school catering teams will teach pupils how to cook three popular meals, and working with our schools to develop packed lunch policies to ensure all food pupils eat during the school day is nutritious. We will also engage students as ‘Agents for Change’ to ensure service improvements are led by pupils through meaningful participation and consultation programmes.

The services provided as part of the new integrated Facilities Management offer include: cleaning, premises management, grounds maintenance, security, waste management, help desk, asset management, engineering and maintenance, and energy management.

Garner continued; “Our new food offer is designed by pupils, for pupils. We have been listening to students and understand that what they want is school food that is easy to eat, tasty and value for money. The new Food & Co. by Sodexo menu will be fully compliant with the school food based standards but we have taken inspiration from popular brands on the high street, so expect hot wraps, bento boxes and sharing baskets to be available.”


 

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