Sodexo, the contract services company, has achieved Investors in People silver status across its UK and Ireland business. The three-year accreditation supplants Sodexo’s Investors in People (IIP) bronze status, which was achieved in 2013.
Briefly, IIP provides a best practice people management standard, defining what it means to lead, manage and support people well for sustainable results. The IIP assessment measures across nine areas. Sodexo says that it scored particularly well in three areas: leading and inspiring people, living the organisation’s values and behaviours, and building capability.
IIP said good leadership and people management is consistent across Sodexo, and a ‘willingness to invest in the growth and development of its people remains a strikingly positive feature of the organisation.’
Earlier this year Sodexo opened up its employee engagement survey to all 34,000 employees, which returned an improved overall engagement score – up six points on two years ago.
Sean Haley, pictured, Sodexo UK and Ireland regional chairman, said: “This is an absolutely fantastic achievement and testament to the hard work of our employees. The Investors in People standard is the benchmark of good people management practice and, for a company that claims people as its strongest asset, achieving silver status is a fantastic result and demonstrates our commitment to employees.
“Achieving silver status gives us confidence that we’re making good progress around people management; it reinforces the improvement in employee engagement we’ve achieved over the last two years; and, above all, it demonstrates to our clients, suppliers, competitors, employees and future employees that people really are at the heart of our business.”
And Gary Inman, Investors in People lead assessor, said: “This Investors in People (IIP) review shows above all that Sodexo has a successful and fruitful approach to its people: in essence that the engine with which the business drives performance and enables its people is well-designed and working to good effect. A Silver IIP Award seems wholly appropriate for a business that undoubtedly recognises the value of its people and of investment in enabling them to give their best.
“A powerful and relevant set of values, supplemented by the Quality of Life message, resonate with people and help to reinforce Sodexo’s ethos, aims and philosophy. Even at the frontline, those who have been employed by competitors tend overwhelmingly to say that Sodexo is preferable to work for: its commitment to people, and to tangibles like training and safety, is felt to be noticeably better.”
