Supporting our Armed Forces
70 days ago
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The UK Armed Forces have been a key player in the UK's national response to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, distributing personal protective equipment (PPE), setting up temporary hospitals, and providing isolation units and air ambulance services.
Our Government & Agencies teams support the military in their daily lives all year round. At a time of national crisis, when the demands on the military are even greater, we are hearing lots of positive feedback from our clients about their Sodexo colleagues. So, with the nation celebrating the 75th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day on 8 May 2020, we’re taking the time to celebrate our Hidden Heroes who are going above and beyond to support the Armed Forces in their essential duties.
Montgomery House in Aldershot is the Headquarters of Regional Command, which acts as the coordinating body for the Army's support to civil authorities. The Sodexo team is going above and beyond to provide additional services to the personnel based on-site - extending the café opening hours to include weekends, adding new vending machines, redeploying catering equipment from sites that have closed, and increasing cleaning services to seven days-and-nights a week to help stop the spread of Covid-19. The client is extremely grateful and wants to thank everyone at the site for their continuing commitment. A huge well done to Linda Gardiner, who received a medal of thanks for baking cakes and cookies in her own time for her colleagues and customers!
In Colchester, our colleagues transformed a Junior Ranks Single Living Accommodation into an isolation block within 24 hours, working through the night to clean and prepare the rooms for occupation, as well as providing support for the rapid testing centre at Stansted.
Thanks to the team at RAF Halton, who have continued to seamlessly provide services while implementing the safety measures to protect against Covid-19. This has involved catering for phase one recruits on the base, and delivering catering services for 500 customers, three times a day.
Over in Cyprus, Sodexo colleagues have been keeping the business running, despite following strict measures imposed by the Cypriot government, including closing borders. These border closures meant that a number of Sodexo people unfortunately couldn't get to work in the normal ways. A huge thanks to Ugur Mehmet, a retail supervisor in the Forces Stores in Cyprus, who made the decision to leave behind his family for 17 days so that he could continue to serve his military customers: a true Hidden Hero.
Thank you again to all the teams and individuals mentioned above, who are continuing to live Sodexo's values - day in, day out. And, to all our Hidden Heroes across Sodexo, we salute you.
Celebrate VE Day 75 with SSAFA
Through Stop Hunger, Sodexo supports SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. In recognition of VE (Victory in Europe) Day 75, SSAFA is asking you to celebrate this important date in history by creating your best piece of VE Day 75 themed art. You can enter here for a £2 donation and the deadline is 10am on Thursday 7 May – good luck!
Want to read about more of our Hidden Heroes?
Login to Your_Sodexo to visit the dedicated Hidden Heroes page where you can find out more about those truly making a difference during the Coronavirus crisis. Make sure to also watch the second thank you video message from our ambassador Matt Dawson, who recognises a handful of the Hidden Heroes supporting charities across the region at this difficult time.
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