Defence Support Services for the Whole Force

Enhancing the physical and mental wellbeing of personnel across all military services.

Supporting Armed Forces Week - Stories from our people

From submarines to Sodexo: Steven Baillie’s career journey
Read Steven's story
Service takes many forms: Matthew Thorpe’s story
Read Matthew's story
From the frontline to second chances: Keith Sinnott’s story
Read Keith's story
From REME to Real Impact: Amy Wilson’s story
Read Amy's story
Lindsey Partington's mission to support the Armed Forces community.
Read Lindsey's story

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The Future of the Lived Experience White Paper: Supporting the UK's Armed Forces in the 2030s

As part of its commitment to working closely with the UK government, Armed Forces, and key stakeholders, Sodexo hosted the Lived Experience Forum in November 2024 to explore issues affecting personnel living in Ministry of Defence facilities across the UK.

This white paper outlines a series of recommendations to improve the future of the Lived experience and support the Armed Forces in the 2030s.

Download The Future Lived Experience in the 2030s white paper

Proud supporters of the Armed Forces

British Army
Sodexo has over 30 years’ experience in providing a range of services for the British Army and their families, supporting the MOD in giving personnel everything they need before, during and after service. Our contracts within the Army cater to thousands of personnel, with the provision of food and catering services as well as soft and hard facility management services. We manage officer messes, diners, accommodations, cafés, and convenience stores, keeping soldiers equipped for duty.
Royal Navy
Our defence services also cater to the British Royal Navy, serving their needs across key Naval Bases in the UK. As being part of the Force is unique and taxing, personnel in this field require specific needs and services that serve them whilst on land or at sea. That’s where we come in, providing customised, enhanced services, from catering and retail to transport and logistics, as well as grounds management and security.
Royal Air Force
In their continuous mission to watch the skies, respond to threats and prevent conflict, Sodexo’s custom Defence services support the Royal Air Force. Whether on land or in the air, we meet the needs of personnel, providing on-base and inflight catering, hospitality, administration, accommodation, and cleaning services, keeping their overall wellbeing in check for optimum performance.

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Catering, facilities and property services

Catering & Food Services
Sodexo delivers a wide range of Catering and Food services to meet the unique and varied needs of the Whole Force. Food is necessary fuel for everyone, especially for military personnel, who need to prioritise their physical and mental wellbeing to perform at their best. Our food services include various forms of military dining and catering, from junior rank diners and Sergeants’ messes to event catering and retail provision across various sites.
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Soft Facilities Management
A wide range of specialised soft facilities management services are provided for our Defence clients. We keep sites running smoothly, keeping buildings, dining areas and work areas in good shape with cleaning and waste management services. Our soft FM services also provide security and administration, with helpdesk and portering services on site. Laundry and tailoring are also provided to keep personnel looking sharp and ready for duty.
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Hard Facilities Management
Ensuring that client infrastructure and equipment is well cared for is key for a safe and effective environment for everyone. Our hard FM management services supply estate planned and reactive maintenance, as well as lifecycle and project management. We have skilled personnel who handle maintenance of heavy-duty equipment and machinery as well as monitor and report performance to ensure facility efficiency and to conform with compliance standards.
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Tailored to customer needs

Sodexo has commissioned in-depth research into the customer journeys of service personnel, mapping their daily patterns, unique needs, and multiple touchpoints from pre-arrival to departure.

This insight drives our approach to providing outstanding customer experiences, where and when it matters most.

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Part of the community

Charity Support
We support various volunteering and fundraising activities and implement such activities across our Defence sites. Sodexo also supports several military charities, including SSAFA, the UK’s oldest national tri-service charity that provides all round support to people at any stage in their military career. Here, our Stop Hunger Foundation helps to alleviate hunger and encourage good nutrition and cooking skills.
Armed Forces Covenant
The Armed Forces Covenant promises to recognise and understand that people who have served or are serving in the Armed Forces, alongside their families, should be treated with fairness and regard in society. We were early signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and are proud holders of a Gold Employer Recognition Award, reflecting our commitment to supporting serving and former military personnel and their families.
Mentoring
Through our long-standing partnership with SSAFA, we provide mentoring to support members of the Armed Forces to successfully transition to civilian life. Through the SSAFA Mentoring Service, long-term, one-to-one and face-to-face support are made available for people who leave or are leaving the Armed Forces.

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Revenue

Sodexo employs over 4,000 people across 150 defence sites within the UK, Cyprus and the Falkland Islands. Ex-forces personnel are well represented within our leadership and delivery teams across the portfolio.

We are proud to serve over 50,000 troops and their families, as well as contractors, industry partners and civilians on-site. We support over 25% of the British Army, as well as the largest RAF Station in the UK (Brize Norton) and the home of almost two-thirds of the Royal Navy’s surface ships (HMNB Portsmouth).

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Mental Health in the Military

The wellbeing of personnel is central to the effectiveness of the modern Armed Forces.

Sodexo employees are well trained to look out for signals of mental suffering and provide support services where needed.

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A group group of cooks standing in front of a buffet table

The Sodexo food map

From north to south, east to west, we scour the country for the best ingredients. It’s important to us that our suppliers are knowledgeable and passionate about their products and that sustainability and ethical practices are high on their agenda too.

Find out more

A man tending to plants in a garden, surrounded by greenery and flowers, under the bright sun

Responsible sourcing

When it comes to food service, safety is a non-negotiable. For our consumers and clients, safe food service is a matter of trust.

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Get started with Sodexo

Contact our team

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Explore other Defence services

Supporting the Whole Force

Understanding today’s military

Supporting Armed Forces Week - Stories from our people

From submarines to Sodexo: Steven Baillie’s career journey

Service takes many forms: Matthew Thorpe’s story

From the frontline to second chances: Keith Sinnott’s story

From REME to Real Impact: Amy Wilson’s story

Lindsey Partington's mission to support the Armed Forces community.

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The Future of the Lived Experience White Paper: Supporting the UK's Armed Forces in the 2030s

Proud supporters of the Armed Forces

British Army

Royal Navy

Royal Air Force

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Village for the Whole Force

Catering, facilities and property services

Catering & Food Services

Soft Facilities Management

Hard Facilities Management

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Tailored to customer needs

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Part of the community

Charity Support

Armed Forces Covenant

Mentoring

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Active recruitment of ex-military personnel

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Mental Health in the Military

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The Sodexo food map

Responsible sourcing

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Supporting Armed Forces Week - Stories from our people

From submarines to Sodexo: Steven Baillie’s career journey

Service takes many forms: Matthew Thorpe’s story

From the frontline to second chances: Keith Sinnott’s story

From REME to Real Impact: Amy Wilson’s story

Lindsey Partington's mission to support the Armed Forces community.

Proud supporters of the Armed Forces

British Army

Royal Navy

Royal Air Force

Catering, facilities and property services

Catering & Food Services

Soft Facilities Management

Hard Facilities Management

Tailored to customer needs

Part of the community

Charity Support

Armed Forces Covenant

Mentoring

Active recruitment of ex-military personnel

Mental Health in the Military

The Sodexo food map

Responsible sourcing