FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
Tracey Smith has been promoted by Sodexo UK & Ireland to the role of CEO for its schools and universities business which provides food services to over 450 state and 60 independent schools and food, FM and student accommodation management services at 105 university sites across the UK.
Smith, who has been at Sodexo for the past 10 years, initially joined the company as Business Development Director for Universities and in 2020 was promoted to Sales Director for Schools and Universities.
Sodexo continues to grow within the education sector. Over the last year its schools and universities segment secured £16.6 million in new business, adding prestigious independent schools to its portfolio including Shrewsbury School and St Leonards School in St Andrews, as well as retaining valued long-term clients including Wellington College and Reed’s School.
With over 30 years’ experience, including many years at board and executive levels, Smith has a proven track record in business development and operational management and in her new role will join the Sodexo UK and Ireland regional leadership team.
Smith said of her new role: “I am delighted to continue my career at Sodexo and thank outgoing CEO, Phil Smith for all he has done to create such a strong and talented team. Our commitment is to deliver healthy, nutritious, sustainable food services and ensure we make a positive impact on the communities we serve every day. Our schools and universities business continues to grow and develop with our continued focus on supporting our clients and enabling young people to thrive in all they do.”
Sean Haley, CEO Sodexo UK & Ireland commented: “Tracey has exceptional client relationships, market knowledge and a driving passion to deliver the best food and ‘home from home’ services that enhance the learning experience for the pupils and students we serve every day. Tracey is a natural choice for this role and I am delighted to welcome her to the regional leadership team.”
Frontline workers form the backbone of facilities management services, serving as the face of the brand and interacting directly with customers. Yet research by both L&G and the Living Wage Foundation reveals the majority feel overlooked and expendable.
Accelerating the problem is a growing technology gap. Despite having 2.7 billion deskless workers worldwide, representing 80 per cent of the global workforce, only one per cent of software and technology investments has been allocated to this segment. This means there is a huge disconnect between frontline workers and their headquarters, leading to lack of sufficient training, communication challenges and low employee retention.
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To register for the webinar taking place on 11 September at 11:00 am click here.
