Sodexho Scotland receives Hospitality Assured Accreditation
A quality standard that focuses on service and business excellence has been achieved by Sodexho Scotland.
Hospitality Assured is championed by the Hotel and Catering International Management Association (HCIMA) and supported by the British Hospitality Association. The standard is also fully endorsed by the British Quality Foundation and Quality Scotland Foundation and meets the criteria in the European Excellence Model.Sodexho Scotland provides catering and support services to some of the biggest organisations in Scotland, ranging from the Scottish Executive and Scottish Parliament to blue chip finance organisations such as Standard Life and manufacturing companies such as OKI.
“The process of gaining the accreditation was rigorous,” said Denise Coulter, Sodexho Scotland's Learning and Development Executive, who co-ordinated the work, “There are 10 key steps and 49 measurable indicators which must be met. The hallmark of Hospitality Assured accredited organisations is a powerful desire to exceed customer expectations, within a climate of continuous improvement and business excellence.
“The quality auditors were very thorough and interviewed a wide range of staff from the managing director to food service assistants and chefs to establish how we deliver the catering service to our clients. They checked everything - including the temperatures inside fridges. To obtain this accreditation is no mean feat and receiving it is a real credit to our managers and staff.
David Pease, Managing Director of Sodexho Scotland, said: “The catering, corporate hospitality and support services industry in Scotland is highly competitive. Staff restaurants are no longer simply providers of pies, beans and chips - many forward looking employers see the staff restaurant as an important element in attracting and retaining key employees. The hospitality service we provide must equal or indeed be of a higher standard than that which our clients can receive in a conference or hotel environment. In 2007 we aim to achieve the accreditation for the support services we provide as well as catering and hospitality.”
