Sodexo and Bruntwood SciTech celebrate Change Please Academy success
Sodexo and Bruntwood SciTech, a client of Sodexo’s Corporate Services division, hosted a celebration day to mark the success of its Change Please Academy at Manchester Science Park
Change Please is an award-winning social enterprise that aims to end homelessness through the power of employment and great tasting coffee. By reinvesting 100% of its profits into training individuals as baristas, providing them with housing, therapy and onward employment opportunities, Change Please has demonstrated a tangible impact on communities.
Sodexo partnered with Change Please in 2017 and today its coffee is served at a multitude of Sodexo client sites.
The celebration held on Friday 17 January, showcased the achievements of the seven individuals who have participated in the programme, providing them with the skills, confidence and support to transform their lives.
On the day, graduates and partners, including Sodexo UK & Ireland’s Director of Social Impact, Angela Halliday, shared powerful stories, highlighting the programme’s success in creating meaningful change.
In April 2023 Sodexo and Bruntwood SciTech launched the Change Please Academy at Manchester Science Park. Seven individuals from the local community, experiencing homelessness, are presently on placement, or have completed their training as baristas through the academy.
The success of the Manchester academy has inspired Bruntwood SciTech and Change Please to explore opportunities to replicate the model at other sites, furthering its commitment to empowering local communities.
It’s been fantastic to see the Change Please Academy going from strength to strength at Manchester Science Park. The programme now supports local people into employment, perfectly aligning Bruntwood SciTech's commitment to supporting local communities, socially and economically. Our team is thrilled to be involved in a project with such a positive impact.
This celebration highlights the incredible impact the Change Please Academy has had on individuals’ lives. At Manchester Science Park, we’ve seen people regain their confidence, develop valuable skills, and take the first steps toward a brighter future. This partnership with Sodexo and Bruntwood SciTech is a shining example of how collaboration can create meaningful change, and we’re excited about the potential to replicate this success at other sites across the UK.
The partnership with Change Please is just one example of Sodexo’s commitment to driving social impact across the communities it serves. Through its Social Impact Pledge Sodexo has committed to do all it can to actively promote social mobility across its business and support disadvantaged groups in finding employment opportunities.