Sodexo & the Purpose Coalition unite in Parliament, launching social mobility report
The power of partnership to drive social mobility and create opportunity was at the centre of The Purpose Coalition’s summer reception in the House of Commons yesterday which was delivered in collaboration with Sodexo UK & Ireland.
Leaders from across multiple sectors, ranging from professional services to health and government, to education, gathered to reaffirm their shared commitment to creating opportunity, strengthening communities and improving social mobility across the UK.
The summer reception also marked the launch of Sodexo’s latest social mobility impact report, Supporting People, Strengthening Places, produced in partnership with The Purpose Coalition.
The report highlights how the organisation is embedding opportunity into every part of its business through investment in people, places, planet and partnerships, demonstrating that commercial success and positive social impact go hand in hand.
Among the report's highlights are:
- 4,000 young people engaged through work experience opportunities, showcasing a range of roles and career paths available to them.
- 35% increase in apprenticeship starts, with more than 700 apprentices currently developing skills across the business, apprenticeship levy utilisation increasing from 53% to 97%, and a commitment to create 100 Foundation Apprenticeships for young people.
- Almost £3 million in Apprenticeship Levy funding transferred to SMEs, charities and purpose led organisations, strengthening local skills pipelines, supporting fair chance employment and widening opportunity across local economies.
- More than 800 employment opportunities created through Sodexo’s Starting Fresh campaign, helping people with convictions access sustainable employment while encouraging employers across the UK to embrace fair chance recruitment. With an additional 300 created within Sodexo since the campaign was launched three years ago
- Almost 11 million people supported through the Stop Hunger Foundation, working alongside more than 470 charity partners to tackle food insecurity and its root causes through funding, volunteering and long-term community partnerships.
- National recognition for responsible business leadership, including being named Employer of the Year at the 2026 British Business Awards, a Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer, listed in the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality, one of the UK's Top 75 Employers for Social Mobility, and being the first business in the UK to achieve the highest Ambassador Charter Mark from the Social Recruitment Advocacy Group for its leadership in inclusive employment.
At Sodexo, creating a better every day for everyone means creating opportunities for people to succeed. Together with our clients and partners, we're helping people into work, supporting them to develop new skills and build fulfilling careers, while strengthening the communities where we operate.
We're proud of the progress we've made, but we know there is still much more to do. This report shows what's possible when businesses choose to create opportunities for all as part of their strategy. When we invest in people, the benefits extend far beyond the individual. Businesses become stronger, communities become more resilient and local economies grow. This leads to more jobs, more opportunities and a ripple effect that benefits the whole of society.
In the UK & Ireland Sodexo employs more than 30,000 people. The company uses its scale to drive positive change through its Social Impact Pledge 2030, which includes a dedicated 'People' pathway focused on creating workplaces where everyone can belong, thrive and progress. This in turn results in exceptional service for Sodexo clients.
The annual The Purpose Coalition Summer Reception was hosted by its chair, Rt Hon Justine Greening, who welcomed partners, parliamentarians and supporters to the Terrace Pavilion in the House of Commons to celebrate the power of partnership in creating opportunity for people and communities across the country.
Social mobility has never been the responsibility of government alone. If we are serious about ensuring where someone starts in life does not determine where they finish, then employers, educators, charities and policymakers must work together with a shared sense of purpose.
Sodexo UK & Ireland has consistently demonstrated what that leadership looks like. Through its long-standing commitment to creating opportunity for its colleagues, supply chain and the communities it serves, it continues to show how responsible business can deliver lasting social impact alongside commercial success. Its latest Social Mobility Impact Report is a powerful example of that commitment in action.
That is exactly what The Purpose Coalition exists to do. We bring together organisations committed to creating opportunity, sharing what works and turning ambition into practical action that improves people's lives.
With more than one million young people currently outside education, employment or training, the need for collective action has never been greater. Yesterday's reception, alongside the launch of Sodexo's Social Mobility Impact Report, demonstrates the strength of that collaboration and the growing momentum behind organisations determined to strengthen people, support places and create opportunity across the UK
The event comes at a critical moment for the UK's opportunity agenda. With an estimated 1,012,000 young people aged 16 to 24 currently not in education, employment or training (NEET), speakers highlighted the importance of employers, educators, policymakers and communities working together to create clearer pathways into skills, employment and long-term opportunity.
Guests also heard from The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, Minister for Skills and Minister for Women and Equalities, who reinforced the importance of partnership between government and employers in widening access to opportunity. She said:
Every person in this country should have access to fantastic opportunities, no matter where they live.
The Purpose Coalition's fantastic work will unite employers, educators and communities together to deliver on that goal.
To ensure every young person has the chance to get on in life, we have committed £2.5 billion to help almost one million young people into education, training and work.