Sodexo team at Woking Hospital wins Making a Difference Award

A team at Nuffield Health Woking Hospital working for Sodexo has won Surrey County Council’s Making a Difference Award at a ceremony on 16 April.

Sodexo’s team, who provides staff and patient dining at the hospital, facilitated Surrey County Council’s EmployAbility scheme which helps those with autism or a learning, physical or sensory disability to find job roles in the local area, and provide ongoing support to them in their roles.

Since the beginning of the scheme, Sodexo has successfully hosted seven placements with two participants from 2014 successfully securing permanent positions as food service and kitchen assistants with Sodexo at the hospital since completing the scheme.

This is the third year that Sodexo has supported the scheme, and Sodexo’s commitment to offering permanent employment to those successfully completing the programme continues.

Matthew Gray, Sodexo’s business manager at Nuffield Health Woking Hospital, said: “We are honoured to have been recognised with this award and it is a tribute to the progression those who have come through the scheme have made, in addition to the support my team has given.”
 
Megan Horsburgh, Sodexo’s head of diversity and inclusion, UK and Ireland, said: “Creating a culture that is inclusive of employees and customers with disabilities is a key focus within our diversity and inclusion approach, so I am delighted that our efforts have been recognised by Surrey County Council. I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making this scheme such a success.”

The award was presented to Sodexo and Woking Hospital representatives at a ceremony on 16 April at Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey. 

You can read more about the scheme at www.surreychoices.com/employability.