Faces for the future

Any rapidly growing business needs to give serious consideration to cultivating its managers of the future. That's the thinking behind the launch of Sodexho's new work-based graduate training scheme. It's a huge company and it's getting bigger: it currently operates more than 3,800 contracts in the UK, up from 3,500 at the end of 2001. "With the fast development of the company, we want to build a wider management capability for the future," says Sodexho's training and development executive, Jeff Dixon. "And, ideally, we want to grow our own."

Undoubtedly, the new graduate training scheme is seen as a key growth area for developing Sodexho's managers of the future. A pilot programme has been running for the past year, and the new scheme will get under way next month, when 12 graduates join the company's 18-month training programme.

Graduates eligible for the scheme may have a degree in any discipline. "While a business degree may seem more relevant, we would be equally happy to take on young people with, say, a history or geography degree," Dixon says. "What is important is that a degree, whatever the subject, proves a level of intellect. The majority of trainees are likely to be in their early 20s, as we're looking to build future leaders of the business. But we're not precise on age, so the right person in their early 30s could also be considered."

Dixon looks favourably on graduates who are considering taking a gap year between their graduation and joining Sodexho. "It can prove to be a great life experience which may later prove valuable in business," he says.

On joining the company, the graduates must first complete a two-week induction and business familiarisation programme. Over the following 18 months they will undertake a series of work-based assignments, interspersed with a series of training programmes. The work-based assignments will involve two-month stints in the company's different divisions, such as business and industry, healthcare, hotels and restaurants, education, defence services, Prestige, and facilities management.

Between the work-based programmes, training will take place in the company's various support departments - such as information technology, finance, purchasing, human resources and marketing. There will also be training in people management, leadership skills, financial management, personnel effectiveness, craft skills, negotiating skills and business retention. "The idea is to provide a mix of operational experience and training in our support services," Dixon says.

Mentors, who are senior managers within Sodexho, are assigned to the graduates at the outset of their training. Continuous assessment throughout the programme will ensure the graduates remain focused.

"On completing their 18-month training, we expect the graduates to be able to move into a junior management role within the company," Dixon says. "For instance, this could be as a junior district manager who may have responsibility for managing a number of contracts. The graduates will themselves have a significant say in where they go - some may want to work in hospitals, others may want to work in industry."

Life as a graduate trainee
Glenn Fry has spent the past year as one of the trainees on Sodexho's pilot graduate training scheme. He believes he has gained an excellent understanding of a business which an annual UK turnover of £1.04b.

As well as a spot of grave-digging for the company's land technology department, and a spell peeling potatoes in the kitchens of a major catering contract, he has also spent time shadowing operations directors in key account meetings.

"Coming face to face with clients at a top level and learning to appreciate their needs has been the most enjoyable aspect of the past year," says 22-year-old Fry. "But it is just as important to be involved in training at a craft level as well. Otherwise, how we are ever going to understand and be able to manage what goes on at the heart of a major contract?"

Fry joined Sodexho three months after graduating in business studies from Staffordshire University, although he would have been happier to join sooner. "It was important to me to get working as soon as possible in order to repay my debts," he says. Over the past year, he has succeeded in paying off £500 of the £9,000 student debt he had at the time of his graduation.

Fry, the youngest of 10 graduates on the inaugural scheme, was attracted by the fact that Sodexho is a worldwide organisation offering an extensive range of different business opportunities. "It's a fast-moving body, moving on from being just a catering company," he says.

Indeed, Fry has experienced many of the diverse sectors that Sodexho is now working in, including land technology, which covers ground maintenance, and facilities management, encompassing building services, reception, security and cleaning services.

"It has been a privilege and a challenge to be part of the business that is new and growing," he says. "The diversity of what we do is quite surprising. For instance, as part of the contract it has with Wiltshire Police, Sodexho is responsible for cleaning up murder scenes."

While Fry's training over the past year has taken him to contracts as far apart as Chester, Anglesey and Reading, he has his eye on moving abroad with Sodexho in the future. "I spent 10 years growing up in the USA and have a very international outlook on life in general," he says. "I would welcome the opportunity to work abroad, and will probably start looking to do so in five to 10 years' time."

Sodexho has a presence in 72 countries on five continents, so Fry will have plenty of options when he looks for a post abroad. In the meantime, his immediate future with the company is likely to involve a move into an operational role on completion of his training in October. "It might be in the role of an assistant contract manager, or maybe as a contract manager," he says. "Whatever the job, it will be important that I can prove my worth and show the company that I am able to manage people."

Although it will depend on the size of contract, Fry hopes that he will be able to command a salary of about £21,000 - up from the £18,000 he has been earning during the training scheme.

• See 5 September for the Savoy's training schemes.

Sodexho

Core business: Sodexho provides a range of catering and support services to meet the needs of different market sectors, such as business and industry, healthcare, education, defence and leisure. As a member of Sodexho Alliance, the world's largest food and management services company, Sodexho in the UK is the second-largest contributor to the group's revenue after North America.
UK contracts: 3,847
Worldwide contracts: 24,300
UK sales: £1.04b
Worldwide sales: £11.9b
UK employees: 54,322
Worldwide employees: 314,000

Joining Sodexho's graduate scheme

Whom do you apply to?
Jeff Dixon, Training and development executive, Sodexho, Lygon Court, Hereward Rise, Halesowen, West Midlands B62 8AN.
Tel: 0121-501 6979. www.sodexho.co.uk

Who can apply? Graduates in any discipline, preferably in their early 20s.

How long is the training scheme? Eighteen months.

What is the starting salary?
About £18,000.