Why Stories Matter

The political, economic, and social landscape continues to shift. Businesses are navigating rising costs, acute skills shortages, regulatory change, and growing expectations to deliver positive social impact alongside commercial performance. At the same time, the structural barriers that limit social mobility remain deeply entrenched, particularly around access to jobs, the right skills, and sustained progression into positive destinations for all. 

While progress has been made in pockets, too many people still face a cliff edge between education and employment or find themselves trapped in low paid work with limited opportunity to progress. Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, care experienced individuals, disabled people, veterans, prison leavers, and those living in rural or deprived urban communities continue to experience unequal access to networks, fair recruitment practices, and quality work experience.

What we hear consistently from businesses across our networks is that the challenge is not a lack of talent - it is a lack of access

Advancing social mobility is not simply about helping people into employment. It is about supporting them to stay, to progress and to build long term financial and personal wellbeing. 

When pathways are unclear, when work is insecure or when workplaces are not designed with inclusion in mind, inequality hardens rather than softens. 

This is why collaboration matters. This is why at Sodexo, creating access and opportunities for all is so important – not only to our clients, but to our people and our communities.

Sodexo and its clients are continually testing new and more inclusive approaches, simplifying recruitment processes, partnering locally, investing in skills development, supporting transitions into work, addressing in work poverty, and building progression pathways that are transparent and attainable. Where this is done well, the benefits are felt not just by individuals, but by organisations, communities, and local economies. It makes good business sense!

Breaking down barriers, creating opportunity:

As a significant employer in the UK & Ireland, we recognise the importance of our people in meeting our clients' needs. This is why we are committed to curating flexible pathways to skills, progression and employment – the benefits being a more diverse, productive and engaged workforce.

Sodexo’s Culinary Academy is a flagship talent and capability programme designed to nurture, develop and retain culinary expertise across its UK & Ireland business. Relaunched in 2026, the Academy provides a structured career pathway for chefs at every stage, from early career commis chefs through to senior leadership roles. It combines formal qualifications, hands on training, and on the job learning delivered in partnership with HIT Training. 

Its core purpose is to inspire, develop and empower the next generation of chefs while raising culinary standards, strengthening consistency, and supporting long term career progression.

As we mark Social Mobility Day 2026, the theme Stories Matter could not be relevant.

Stories show the difference that a single opportunity, a supportive manager or a second chance can make, not just to a career, but to a person’s confidence, stability, and wellbeing. Data, frameworks, and policies are essential, but it is peoples’ lived experience that truly bring social mobility to life.

Stories also remind and reinforce why social mobility really matters. It underpins economic resilience, social cohesion, and financial wellbeing. When more people can fulfil their potential, businesses access broader talent pools, communities are strengthened and the economy becomes more inclusive and sustainable.

Telling the stories of our people keeps the momentum going and drives us to do more to create opportunities for our people in excelling in what they do for our clients.

Gordon Carberry’s journey from working across Michelin and fine dining kitchens to becoming a Craft Development Chef with Sodexo Ireland exemplifies how talent, when nurtured through opportunity and continuous development, can thrive and inspire others. He recently progressed from regional winner to global finalist at Sodexo’s Cook for Change Global competition. By sharing his experiences and telling his story, he helps to inspire colleagues and future talent across Sodexo, reinforcing that with the right support, exposure, and belief, individuals can build meaningful careers and contribute to wider social mobility within the hospitality sector.

In a broader sense, sitting behind the commitments we make, and the external validation we receive tells many stories of lives being changed and opportunities being made possible. An example being the first organisation to receive Gold Tier accreditation from the Fair Chance Business Alliance; focusing on fair recruitment and progression of people with criminal records.

Looking Ahead - keeping momentum:

Progress will not come from one story, one campaign or one day of recognition, but instead it will come from sustained collaboration between business, government, education, and communities. 

Our continued commitment to uplifting our colleagues and communities through social mobility-centric strategies, monitoring our performance on the basis that advancing social mobility is not just the right thing to do, it is essential to the future of our people, our businesses, and our country.