Sodexo UK & Ireland has launched a new hospitality training programme aimed at enhancing service quality across its client network. World Coffee Portal states that the new Barista Collective programme will be rolled out across the company's operations, where it serves more than nine million cups of coffee each year.

The initiative will be delivered by a team of 22 Coffee Champions who have completed an intensive Train the Trainer programme. These specialists will lead Level 1 and Level 2 barista training courses for colleagues across the business, helping to build technical knowledge and improve consistency in coffee preparation and customer service.

Level 1 training focuses on core barista skills, while the more advanced Level 2 course explores topics including coffee bean selection, processing methods, roasting, sensory development and brewing techniques. The programme has been designed to equip employees with a deeper understanding of coffee while supporting the delivery of a more consistent guest experience.

According to Julian Weresch, Head of Coffee & Franchises at Sodexo UK & Ireland, the Barista Collective is built around three core pillars: craft, collaboration and community. He said the programme represents a shift from viewing coffee training purely as a technical requirement to recognising it as an important part of the guest experience that can help create more personalised interactions.

The training programme will be introduced across approximately 300 client sites throughout the UK and Ireland. These include hospitals, colleges, prisons, corporate offices and live event venues, reflecting the broad range of environments where Sodexo delivers hospitality and integrated facilities management services.

Sodexo currently serves its proprietary Fairtrade coffee brand, Aspretto, alongside products from Cornwall-based Origin Coffee. The company also partners with social enterprise coffee roasters, including Change Please and Combat2Coffee, at selected locations. In October 2025, Sodexo supported the opening of Combat2Coffee's new roastery and café at HMP Altcourse in Liverpool, providing prisoners with opportunities to gain qualifications in cookery, barista skills and food safety to improve future employment prospects.

The launch of the Barista Collective follows several significant contract wins for Sodexo UK & Ireland over the past year, including a facilities management agreement with the UK Home Office, a food and support services contract with EY in Ireland, and a hospitality partnership with Edinburgh Zoo, as the company continues to strengthen its service offering across the UK and Irish markets.