Sodexo announces 25 new apprenticeships for Armed Forces Cadets and extended paid leave for Cadet Force Adult volunteers

Defence People
Oct. 07, 2026

photo credit: UK MOD Photographer PO Rory Arnold

Minister for Veterans and People, Calvin Bailey MP (centre), visited Army Cadets at Beckingham Training Camp and RAF Air Cadets at RAF Waddington

Sodexo UK & Ireland is celebrating the UK’s first National Cadets Week by announcing 25 fully-funded foundation apprenticeships for Cadet Forces and 10 paid volunteering days for Cadet Force Adult Volunteers employed at the company.

The eight-month apprenticeship programmes will be available nationally for cadet leavers, aged 18 and over, and will be funded through Sodexo's apprenticeship programme. These will be delivered as a mix of structured learning, coaching, and hands-on experience, equipping young people to build careers in food services or facilities management.

Inspired by conversations over the past 18 months with the Ministry of Defence, Cadet Forces and other military personnel, this offer from Sodexo reflects an ongoing ambition for the company to be viewed as one of the best employers of veterans, reservists, military families and cadets in the UK.

There will be a range of programmes available for cadets, such as training to become a Commis Chef, to work in frontline facilities management, or in hospitality, each of which could result in opportunities to continue working in the Defence sector.

The Cadet Forces are one of the UK’s best-kept secrets when it comes to developing talented young people, so these commitments will have a significant impact on the cadets, the organisations they represent throughout their careers, and fellow volunteers.
Providing dedicated leave will result in a healthier work-life balance for Adult Cadet Force Volunteers and it will hopefully encourage more people to volunteer their time in supporting young people, which has been one of the best decisions I’ve made with the Sea Cadets 19 years ago.

Matthew Sumner-ThorpeAdult Cadet Force Volunteer at Newton-le-Willows Sea Cadets and Senior HSEQ Manager, Sodexo UK & Ireland

photo credit: UK MOD LPhot Stuart Dickson

Sea Cadets at Hermitage Park, Helensburgh

Sodexo has also announced that it has extended its Reservist Leave policy, providing an additional 10 days of flexible paid leave for Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.

This change will alleviate pressures on existing cadet volunteers employed by Sodexo, who would usually use annual leave days to volunteer, and their families, while also encouraging more colleagues to take up volunteering with the Cadet Forces.

Sodexo has been a long-standing partner of the UK Armed Forces for more than 30 years, currently providing a range of Food, Soft FM, and Hard FM services in more than 50 military sites in the UK, Cyprus, and the Falkland Islands.

Sodexo has a long and proud history supporting our Armed Forces, so we are delighted to mark the first-ever National Cadets Week with two announcements that represent unlocking new opportunities for young people and providing added support for adult volunteers.
We recognise and thank the UK Cadet Forces for the essential service they provide our young people, enabling them with the practical skills, resilience, and discipline that set them up for success in later life.
Through close partnership with the Ministry of Defence, Sodexo will continue to widen opportunity and innovate to improve the Lived Experience of the military community.

Mark BakerChief Operating Officer (Defence), Sodexo UK & Ireland

Our Cadet Forces give young people the chance to discover what they’re capable of, have fun, build friendships and develop skills that will stay with them for life.
National Cadets Week is a chance for us to celebrate the young people who make our Cadet Forces so special, and the volunteers who give their time to help them thrive. Together, we can ensure these opportunities remain for generations to come.

Calvin Bailey MPMinister for Veterans and People

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Sodexo has also pledged to provide chef masterclasses to a range of cadet units, in partnership with the Ministry of Defence, free packed lunches and food supplies for the Army Cadets at Colchester Garrison for the next 12 months, and voluntary work with Newton-Le-Willows Sea Cadets to help repair, paint, and decorate some of the old buildings.

Find out more about how Sodexo supports the armed forces

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FAQs

Cadets develop a really valuable combination of skills and experiences outside the traditional classroom. They work towards individual and team goals, learn to work with different personalities and develop skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, resilience and confidence.
From an employer perspective, it gives organisations access to people who have already had opportunities to develop some of the skills that are important in the workplace.
It also helps broaden the talent pool. To future-proof businesses, we need to look beyond traditional routes and recognise the different experiences that can help people build the skills businesses need.
Apprenticeships provide an opportunity to combine practical experience with formal learning, which makes them a natural fit for the skills and experiences many young people develop through the Cadet Forces.
The cadet experience is very much about learning by doing. Young people work with others, take on challenges, develop confidence and resilience and learn how to contribute to a team.
An apprenticeship can build on that experience by giving them the opportunity to develop professional and technical skills in the workplace. It can also open up different pathways for young people, rather than a linear career route.
People increasingly want their working lives to reflect more than just their job. They want opportunities to develop, contribute to their communities and pursue interests and commitments outside of work.
As employers, we need to think about how we create an environment where people can do those things alongside their careers. For someone who volunteers with the Cadet Forces, for example, having the flexibility to manage a regular volunteering commitment can make a real difference.
There is also a business benefit. Volunteering can help people develop leadership, coaching, mentoring, stakeholder-management and teamwork skills. Those experiences can broaden someone's skill set and bring different perspectives into the workplace.
The young people in the Cadet Forces are part of the workforce of the future. They are developing skills and experiences now that can help them in whatever career they choose to pursue later.
That is why we shouldn't think about cadets solely through the lens of future Armed Forces recruitment. Cadets are exploring, challenging and developing themselves, and that experience can lead them in many different directions.
As businesses, we have a responsibility to help young people reach their potential and to broaden the talent pools we draw from. Supporting the Cadet Forces gives us an opportunity to engage with young people earlier, recognise the skills they are developing and help create pathways into employment. This will help future-proof your business with a reliable talent pool.

Sodexo announces 25 new apprenticeships for Armed Forces Cadets and extended paid leave for Cadet Force Adult volunteers

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FAQs

What are the business benefits of hiring former cadets?

Why have you chosen apprenticeships as the employment route for cadets?

How can supporting volunteering strengthen an employer’s ability to attract and retain talent?

Why is investing in the Cadet Forces an investment in the wider future workforce?

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FAQs

What are the business benefits of hiring former cadets?

Why have you chosen apprenticeships as the employment route for cadets?

How can supporting volunteering strengthen an employer’s ability to attract and retain talent?

Why is investing in the Cadet Forces an investment in the wider future workforce?