The programme has supported over 500,000 people, both within and outside the organisation, enhancing employment opportunities and changing lives through job creation, education, training, and community engagement.
Compass Group opened Xcelerate with Edgbaston – a dedicated community skills and learning hub, where over 3,500 people have benefited from training and upskilling in all aspects of hospitality.
The food and support services firm has also taught over 250 14–16-year-olds through Compass’ Junior Chef Academies, providing children with culinary skills and helping to build their confidence.
Compass Group engaged with over 98,000 young people and families providing food, nutrition, wellbeing and sustainability workshops through the inspiring Beyond the Chartwells Kitchen programme in the past year.
Sophie Smith, chief people officer at Compass Group UK & Ireland, said: “Supporting over 500,000 people in the past four years fills us with pride and motivates us to keep making a real difference.
“During that time we have learnt so much and now is the ideal time to enhance our programme further, to ensure we are doing all that we can to continue to improve the outcomes from people both within and outside our organisation.
“By embedding socio-economic outcomes into all our programmes, as well as leveraging our scale, we are able to support tens of thousands of people every year, whether it’s through learning and development, upskilling, providing work or work experience, as well as supporting local initiatives in the communities in which we work.”
Building on the lessons it has learnt over the past four years, the company is expanding its flagship social mobility programme with the launch of ‘Mission to a Million: Forward Together’. There are four key focus areas:
- Get In: Expanding access to opportunities by offering 1,000 apprenticeships annually and partnering with schools, charities, and local communities.
- Get On: Implementing targeted initiatives such as its Six Signature Skills Programmes, which create focus areas for development training within Compass.
- Get Supported: Continuing to advocate for the Real Living Wage and providing extensive employee assistance programmes, including wellbeing, mental health, and financial assistance.
- Get Involved: Empowering over 55,000 colleagues to volunteer their time in support of good causes.