Contract catering giant Sodexho is bringing its staff recruitment back in-house after a three-year outsourcing deal failed to work out.

The company, which employs 48,000 people, has admitted it will not renew its contract with outsourcing provider Berkeley Scott Group, because it found the whole process “lacked consistency”, with “no set procedures for recruitment”.

Difficulties with tracking the communication Berkeley Scott had with candidates and being unable to effectively share talent between different business divisions worsened the problem.

Tamsin O’Bryen, resourcing manager at Sodexho, told Caterer sister title Personnel Today: “There was a real need to create a quicker and more efficient recruitment process, which would improve candidate communication and support our new branding. 

“When my predecessor left, the [outsourcing] relationship was managed by the purchasing department rather than HR. So there was less emphasis on talent and competence.”

A spokeswoman for Berkeley Scott admitted that the outsourcing arrangement “didn’t work so well” towards the end, but insisted the contract had “finished amicably”.

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By Daniel Thomas

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