Sodexo gifts £2m of apprenticeship levy

Sodexo has gifted £2m of its apprenticeship levy to support a number of small companies and not-for-profit organisations across the UK. 

The food services and facilities management business first took the decision to “gift with purpose” a portion of the apprenticeship levy it pays in 2019. In August 2021, it then announced it had gifted more than £1m to SMEs for apprenticeship training. 

This has included trainee paramedics for the London Ambulance Service as well as health and support staff for local community organisations and sports clubs in Salford, Worcester and Bath.

Over the last eighteen months since hitting the £1m milestone, Sodexo has doubled that figure to £2m and committed apprentice levy gifting funds to several other organisations. The £2m milestone includes Sodexo pledging £100,000 to eligible businesses through the Government’s apprentice levy portal. 

Sue Davison, head of Apprenticeships at Sodexo, said:  “Apprenticeships are a fantastic way for people to learn new skills, launch their careers, or reskill if they are seeking a fresh challenge. We encourage other organisations to follow suit and use their apprenticeship levy gifting to help maintain a sustainable talent pipeline that will allow businesses and communities to grow and thrive.”

Sean Haley, CEO of Sodexo UK and Ireland, added: “We are in business to make a positive impact on the economic and social development of the communities where we live, work and serve. As such, we know there is a significant role we can play in helping more organisations develop the people and the skills they will need in the future. This is why apprenticeship levy gifting is such a crucial component of our social impact pledge.”