Sodexo’s new restaurant set to elevate employee experience at Leonardo’s Yeovil site

Business and Industries Kitchen Works
Feb. 10, 2025

Sodexo has unveiled a brand-new restaurant at Leonardo in Yeovil, the Home of British Helicopters, with sustainability at the heart of its design.

Sodexo ambassador and former England rugby player Matt Dawson joined VIPs from Leonardo, and senior Sodexo staff at the official opening earlier this month.

Leonardo has partnered with Sodexo since 2012, delivering around a wide range of hard and soft FM services ranging from cleaning, security access systems, waste, grounds maintenance, asset management, technical services (electrical, mechanical, HVAC & civils) and helpdesk.

In July 2024, Sodexo successfully won the food services contract for the Yeovil site. The new food services contract has seen the construction of a new restaurant in a location that improves accessibility.

This move enabled Sodexo to create an inspiring social space using its Kitchen Works food offer, developed to serve nutritious meals which are accessible and affordable for all. The new restaurant, named Hangar One by a Leonardo employee, has been designed to bring together the company’s 2,600 plus employees to connect with each other and disconnect from work whilst enjoying delicious, affordable and sustainable food.

Sodexo has introduced a number of digital solutions, including its Everyday App which enables employees to pre-order food and drink, as well as digital self-service kiosks located in the restaurant where employees can also order their food and drink. A number of micro-markets and smart vending options have also been introduced across the site.

Reflecting Sodexo’s commitment to sustainability is the build of an all-electric kitchen and a menu focusing on seasonal, sustainably sourced, and low-carbon dishes. On offer are protein-packed dishes; convenient grab-and-go options as well as traditional favourites and global dishes. Since September 2024, Sodexo’s Hawkers ‘pop-up’ mobile van has been serving Leonardo employees with delicious street food dishes at various locations across the site.

In designing the new restaurant, Sodexo has worked with local suppliers to create a welcoming, comfortable environment featuring upcycled or second-hand furniture, large planters made on-site from reclaimed wood with artwork created by local college students on display.

We have worked closely with Leonardo for over twelve years now delivering a vast array of hard and soft FM services across the Yeovil site. We are delighted to now be able to fuel the workforce with this new food services contract.
The new Hangar One restaurant will provide Leonardo’s hard-working teams and visitors with a space where they can relax and enjoy good food, prepared by our highly skilled chefs. We collaborated with the Leonardo team to ensure that the new restaurant and the food services as a whole were aligned to its Future of Food initiative.

Lynsey O'KeefeCEO Corporate Services and Energy & Resources, Sodexo UK & Ireland

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At the heart of Sodexo’s operations is its long-standing commitment to being a purposeful business to make a positive difference to its people, those it serves and the communities in which it operates. It is committed to taking an active role in breaking down barriers to employment in the most marginalised of geographies, groups and communities to offer the opportunities where they are most needed.

As a long-term partner with DFN Project Search, a transition-to-work programme for students with learning disabilities and autism spectrum conditions, Sodexo has supported many internships at its contracts across the country including through its contract with Leonardo.

In September 2024, as part of its partnership in the Supported Internship Programme alongside Yeovil College, Discovery and DFN Project Search, Sodexo welcomed a young man with an interest in catering as an intern. After completing his internship, he has gone on to successfully apply and secure a permanent position with Sodexo in the catering team at Leonardo.

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I am delighted to open our new Hangar One restaurant in conjunction with Sodexo. It is fantastic to see so many people enjoying the new facility at Leonardo in Yeovil, the Home of British Helicopters.

Adam ClarkeMD Leonardo Helicopters UK

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Sodexo’s Corporate Services business delivers workplace services, facilities management and food services to some of the world’s most recognisable brands. Its teams have expertise operating across a range of different environments in the corporate sector, including headquarters, regional offices, data centres, manufacturing centres and research and development hubs, in sectors as diverse as professional services, financial services, pharmaceuticals, media and technology. Through its corporate service division, Sodexo can offer businesses a range of its leading food brands and companies, such as Fooditude, The Good Eating Company, Modern Recipe and Kitchen Works.

Learn more about Corporate Services

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