Sodexo joins Bright Future Co-op to support survivors of modern slavery find employment
Sodexo UK & Ireland reaffirms its leadership in driving social mobility with the announcement of a new partnership with Bright Future Co-op to support survivors of modern slavery find meaningful employment.
Bright Future, a not-for-profit cooperative, works with dedicated business members, such as Sodexo, to support survivors of modern slavery rebuild their lives with long-term employment opportunities. Working with its charity partners across the UK Bright Future offers a national matching service for individuals to find employment. When an opportunity arises the individual is offered four-week work placement, which if successful will lead to a non-competitive interview and offer of a permanent role.
In 2023 alone, more than 17,000 victims of modern slavery were identified in the UK, and it is estimated that more than 130,000 people are currently being exploited. Since it was founded in 2021 Bright Future has helped over 100 survivors find safe employment. It has over 30 business members including Co-op, Barnardos, Hope for Justice, The Very Group, Siemens, and Currys.
As an employer of more than 30,000 people in the UK and Ireland Sodexo has the power to make a difference and is committed to opening doors for those facing barriers to employment and championing fair access to skills, learning and meaningful work for all.
We’re thrilled to welcome Sodexo as a new member of Bright Future. Its commitment to fair hiring and meaningful support will help create genuine pathways into work and lasting stability for people who have experienced exploitation.
Sodexo is the first in its industry to join the co-op reaffirming its commitment to using business as a force for good and helping advance its ambitious goals as laid out in its Social Impact Pledge 2030. Since it was founded in 1966 improving quality of life though social mobility, belonging and opportunity has always been part of its DNA.
Through its collaboration with Bright Future Sodexo will set a benchmark for ethical employment practices in the food and facilities management services industry and open up opportunities for survivors of exploitation to find employment at one of the thousands of workplaces Sodexo serves across the UK & Ireland.
This new partnership is a natural extension to our work in tackling modern slavery and a chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by it.
Joining Bright Future is a proud moment for us and a powerful step forward in our commitment to social justice.
By opening up employment opportunities within our business and providing wraparound support we look forward to helping individuals rebuild their lives and realise their potential.
This partnership aligns perfectly with our ambition to drive social mobility and create lasting change in the communities we serve.
Sodexo is an industry leader in tackling modern slavery, it is committed to preventing all forms of compulsory labour and work to ensure slavery and human trafficking does not take place in any part of its business or supply chain. It is driving cross-industry collaboration as pioneer and member of the BSA Modern Slavery Council and through its Modern Slavery Supplier Forum which it established in 2021 bringing together its supply partners of all sizes every six months to highlight new risks, share best practice and agree common commitments and training needs.
Find out more about our Social Impact Pledge 2030