SODEXO HAS launched its Public Service Pledge, an ethical manifesto for its contracts and conduct, for citizens and communities.
The Public Service Pledge includes a set of commitments which are designed to help Sodexo UK & Ireland contribute to achieving a fairer and better society. These include a commitment to join the Living Wage’s Service Provider Scheme and a commitment to report on and address the gender pay gap.
The Pledge also details ways in which Sodexo will step up reporting on its public sector contracts, in order to increase transparency and accountability. Chief among these are pledges to publish the savings produced for Central Government through our contracts and to publish annually how we have contributed towards our Government clients’ stated target outcomes.
Sodexo employs 34,000 employees in the UK and Ireland, with over half of those working on Government contracts, in justice, defence, healthcare and education. In the last year Sodexo has won several high profile public sector contracts, including six of the MoJ’s community rehabilitation company probation contracts (in partnership with Nacro) and a five year contract with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, to provide cleaning, portering, retail and private patient services across its five hospitals in London.
Sodexo UK and Ireland’s chief executive Debbie White commented; “We very much believe that in our relationships with our clients, whether they be in the public or private sector, we sign a social as well as commercial contract. Our Public Service Pledge is designed to bring this to life; to give us a set of tangible actions, commitments and targets that will help us demonstrate our principles.
The Public Service Pledge is also about setting out our stall as a leading services company and fighting the corner for private sector provision in the public sector. We are eager to demonstrate the many positive examples of superb private sector provision of public services and how private sector companies can bring unbeatable value and outcomes to clients.
Speaking at the launch of the Pledge in Westminster, Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude said; “Reforming public services to improve their quality and drive savings for taxpayers is a core part of his Government’s long-term economic plan. We are on track to save taxpayers £20 billion this year compared to a 2009/10 baseline through efficiency and reform, and by reducing losses to fraud, error and debt. There’s so much more to do in the years to come and we have ambitious plans to accelerate our savings.”
