Sodexho wins major London defence contract

07 December 2007

Sodexho, a leading integrated facilities management provider to the defence sector, has won a contract, worth an annual turnover of £7.3 million, to provide FM services to 16 major defence sites across the Greater London Area including the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace.

The seven year contract will start in April 2008 and will employ over 500 Sodexho staff in a wide range of soft facilities management services. This will include providing over 5,000 customers three meals a day, seven days a week as part of Sodexho Defence’s distinctive HUB branded catering, retail and leisure (CRL) offer. Sodexho Defence will also offer cleaning, waste management, uniform tailoring, laundry, pest control and dry cleaning services.

The contract will involve Sodexho Defence Services investing £1.05 million in its unique HUB brand, specifically designed to offer high street facilities that meet the needs of both service personnel and their families within the barracks. It brings eating, drinking, shopping and leisure together in one place at lower than high street prices. There will be 40 catering and bar premises upgraded, and eleven shops will be introduced under the Londis brand. Sodexho’s CRL facilities will also be open to the Wider Defence Community, including Service families and MOD civil servants.

The investment will also enable the introduction of the MOD’s Pay As You Dine (PAYD) system. The PAYD system allows Servicemen and Service women the freedom to choose what they purchase, as opposed to a direct food charge being recovered from their pay. Furthermore, the investment will provide modern retail and leisure facilities ensuring that the Defence Community has the most up to date and suitable facilities to meet its specialist needs.

The deal will involve providing a wide variety of support services to the guards on duty at St James’ Palace, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, The Tower of London and The Queen’s Life Guard. Other sites involved in the contract include The Royal College of Defence Studies situated in Belgrave Square, Wellington Barracks and St John’s Wood, home to the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

Jeremy Dicks, Sodexho Defence contract director for London, said: “This is another major contract success for Sodexho Defence and reinforces our excellent working relationship with the Armed Forces, and our understanding of the Army’s unique requirements in London District. This contract will incorporate important changes as we switch to a PAYD format that will significantly help to improve daily life within the Defence Community.”

Sodexho Defence has been providing support services to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) since 1985 and operates across the UK and overseas, including Catterick Garrison, Colchester Garrison, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines across the South and South West, London, RAF High Wycombe, several United States Air Force bases, Cyprus and the Falkland Islands. Supporting all three of the Armed Forces, Sodexho Defence is committed to supporting the entire Defence Community, including Service families, and is a strong supporter of many Service welfare organisations and charities.
www.sodexho-uk.com

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