As part of its Starting Fresh programme, Sodexo has introduced guaranteed job interviews for individuals with disclosed criminal convictions to support ex-offenders in their transition back into the workforce.
The catering firm, which employs over 30,000 people across the UK and Ireland, is offering guaranteed job interviews to applicants with disclosed criminal convictions who meet the job criteria and pass the necessary screening. This initiative aims to provide ex-offenders with an opportunity to re-enter the workforce.
Several Sodexo sites have already adopted this initiative, successfully hiring individuals into various roles across its food services and facilities management sectors.
The organisation’s Frontline Talent Acquisition team is collaborating closely with hiring managers to tailor the process to meet the unique needs and safeguarding requirements of each site.
Sodexo's Starting Fresh programme was created to encourage more employers to actively recruit trained and qualified prison-leavers, from any prison, not just the six prisons operated by Sodexo.
In the past year, Sodexo’s Prison Employment Leads have successfully placed over 700 prison-leavers into sustainable employment across industries including retail, hospitality, and construction.
So far this year, Sodexo has employed 96 individuals with disclosed criminal convictions, with a third of these hires coming through the Starting Fresh programme. This means they were employed directly by Sodexo within six weeks of their release from prison.
Sodexo is a 'Ban the Box' employer, meaning it only requires disclosure of criminal convictions when necessary for vetting specific roles.
As a result, the company will never know the full and exact number of individuals with criminal convictions who have been recruited into the business.
Tony Simpson, justice chief operating officer at Sodexo UK & Ireland, said: “Sodexo currently operates six prisons, and we see first-hand the transformative power of meaningful employment for individuals with criminal convictions. Gainful employment not only reduces reoffending but also delivers immense value to businesses and the communities they serve.
“We are determined to help improve outcomes for people leaving prison by creating opportunities that allow them to rebuild their lives. Initiatives like Starting Fresh demonstrate our commitment to driving change and making a real difference where it matters most.”
Sodexo, which has been managing prisons in the UK for 30 years, continues to expand its Starting Fresh programme beyond its own organisation. It collaborates with prisons—both those operated and not operated by Sodexo—businesses, and over 20 external partners, including The New Futures Network, The Oswin Project, Clean Sheet, Novus Works, and The Purpose Coalition.
These collaborations aim to eliminate barriers to employment and support the successful reintegration of individuals into their communities.
Through its partnership with the New Futures Network, Sodexo has streamlined recruitment pathways between prisons—both those it operates and others—and its business.
The group developed a toolkit for Members of Parliament, providing resources to help them encourage businesses in their constituencies to consider hiring ex-offenders and assist constituents with criminal records in securing employment.
Earlier this year, Sodexo launched an employer toolkit aimed at encouraging other businesses to harness the potential of this under-utilised workforce and help create a fairer society.