Keeping residents connected, supported and rested in remote locations

When work means living hundreds of miles from family, friends and familiar routines, wellbeing is shaped by much more than what happens during a shift. It is built by the room you return to, the food waiting for you, the people around you, the space you have to switch off and the support available when you need it.

Sodexo operates accommodation villages that support between 150-500 residents at any given time. These workers are delivering critical infrastructure work in some of the UK’s most geographically isolated locations. These sites can be beautiful, with dramatic landscapes and strong local character, but they are also far from home comforts and everyday support networks.

This village is where they stay for days or weeks at a time. And that makes the environment we create incredibly important. 

Sodexo’s role starts with getting the basics right - clean, comfortable rooms, well-maintained shared spaces, nutritious meals, laundry and day-to-day services.

But supporting mental health in remote living environments means going further than doing the basics well. It means thinking about how residents connect, stay active, build routine and feel part of a community while they are away from their own.

Health and wellbeing support

• Mindful Active – Earlier this year, Sodexo introduced this health and wellbeing programme across all the villages we support. Built around four pillars – Fuel, Focus, Perform and Restore – it provides practical resources and expert guidance on nutrition, mental wellbeing, fitness and recovery, helping residents make healthier lifestyle choices while living and working away from home. The programme is led by our Nutrition and Wellbeing Manager, Kate Hilton, a registered dietitian whose evidence-based approach ensures the support we provide is both practical and effective.
• Nutritious, satiating food – Sodexo operates a wide food offering at these remote sites. Our chef-prepared meals support wellbeing, sustained energy, and operational continuity, helping teams reset, refuel, and reconnect, all while making eating well easy.

• Mental Health First Responders – Sodexo invested in the training of Mental Health First Responders. These are Sodexo colleagues based on these sites, who are trained to be able to recognise when someone may be struggling and provide a supportive route to further help.

Practical support

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  On-site gyms – Our villages give residents opportunities to stay active, protect routines and support their wider wellbeing.

• Laundry and day-to-day services – Reduce the practical pressures of remote living and give residents time back after long shifts.
• Clean, comfortable rooms – Help residents rest properly and reset between shifts.
• For those staying longer – We also work to assign them a room, so they can settle, avoiding the disruption of repeatedly packing and unpacking.

Social connection and community

• Darts nights, pool nights and shared bar areas – These help residents unwind and spend time together outside work and reduce the isolation that can come with remote living.
• Strava groups and activity challenges – Encourage residents to get outdoors, stay active and make the most of the beautiful local landscape.
• Local touches, such as Shetland Soap Company and local products, help create a stronger sense of place and community.

As you can see, a well-run village is more than a place to sleep between shifts. It is part of the wider operational environment that helps people feel rested, supported and ready to do their jobs safely and well. This World Mental Health Day, we are recognising the everyday things that make a difference to people living and working away from home. Because when residents are supporting critical infrastructure in some of the UK’s most remote locations, creating clean, comfortable and connected places to live is one of the most important ways we can support their wellbeing.