New Year and it's back to the grind.

A month of the new year has passed already. Isn't January an awful month? After weeks of festivities in the lead-up to Christmas it is suddenly back to work and no immediate celebrations on the horizon - except, of course, for those romantics out there who no doubt can't wait for Valentine's Day and the surprises it may or may not bring - good luck to anyone who is hopeful.

For the next six months I will be putting in 110% effort at work as we are retendering for the contract which comprises no less than 95% of the business I manage - so no pressure there, then! We have had the contract since 1998 and each time we have retendered we really go through the mill waiting to hear the outcome.

It is imperative that the whole team remains positive throughout the process and continues to provide the high level of service expected by the client. At Sodexho we aim to exceed our clients' expectations and this is never more important than at market-testing time.

One thing I can rest easy about is the fact that I have completed the mammoth task of conducting all 17 performance appraisals for the managers in my area within the time set by the HR department. It may seem a simple task but it takes up a considerable amount of time going through the appraisals and sitting down with each individual to establish realistic objectives for them. Then of course there is the formality of completing all the relevant forms for each of them and forwarding them on to HR for the personnel files.

It may be time-consuming, but it is an important and motivational process for both my team and me. For all of us it is about working towards those objectives and it is my role to offer guidance and advice where needed.

The big T word is still there - training. The next stage of what is known here as the Sodexho Way programme is "Business Process Re-engineering". Each of us is taking part in workshops which are open and honest about the need for change in our business, and what we all need to do to streamline the way we manage and operate our business. Everyone agrees that this is essential if we as a team and the company as a whole are to move forward.

The marketplace is changing and so must we.

Sara Carless is Sodexho's district manager for the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary