Facilities-management giant Sodexo announced on 13 November 2025 that it has become the latest corporate member of the ‘Bright Future’ employment co-operative, pledging targeted recruitment and wrap-around support for people identified as victims of modern slavery—almost one-third of whom are non-UK nationals holding refugee or human-trafficking visas.
Home Office data show 9,125 potential victims referred to the National Referral Mechanism in 2024, an all-time high. Employers participating in Bright Future guarantee survivors a paid work placement leading to a permanent role once they secure the right to work. Sodexo will ring-fence 50 positions across catering, cleaning and security contracts and provide mentoring, English-language training and help with biometric-permit renewal.
![Sodexo Joins ‘Bright Future’ Scheme to Employ Modern-Slavery Survivors, Many on Refugee Visas]()
The programme is strategically important for mobility teams because it offers a compliant pathway to fill critical-labour gaps while meeting Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) targets. As corporate reporting standards tighten, demonstrating action on forced-labour remediation can influence tier-one supplier status in government and FTSE 250 procurement.
Immigration advisers note that survivors on the Slavery or Human Trafficking Leave to Remain route can apply for indefinite leave after 12 months of continuous employment—making employer sponsorship a practical retention tool. Sodexo said it will work with pro-bono law firms to expedite visa renewals and cover application fees.
With large multinationals under pressure to map supply-chain risk, Sodexo’s move may encourage other UK sponsors to join similar schemes, potentially creating a new mobility niche focused on rehabilitating exploited migrants and integrating them into the workforce.
Home Office data show 9,125 potential victims referred to the National Referral Mechanism in 2024, an all-time high. Employers participating in Bright Future guarantee survivors a paid work placement leading to a permanent role once they secure the right to work. Sodexo will ring-fence 50 positions across catering, cleaning and security contracts and provide mentoring, English-language training and help with biometric-permit renewal.
The programme is strategically important for mobility teams because it offers a compliant pathway to fill critical-labour gaps while meeting Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) targets. As corporate reporting standards tighten, demonstrating action on forced-labour remediation can influence tier-one supplier status in government and FTSE 250 procurement.
Immigration advisers note that survivors on the Slavery or Human Trafficking Leave to Remain route can apply for indefinite leave after 12 months of continuous employment—making employer sponsorship a practical retention tool. Sodexo said it will work with pro-bono law firms to expedite visa renewals and cover application fees.
With large multinationals under pressure to map supply-chain risk, Sodexo’s move may encourage other UK sponsors to join similar schemes, potentially creating a new mobility niche focused on rehabilitating exploited migrants and integrating them into the workforce.
