Sodexo UK & Ireland has introduced a new training initiative designed to elevate coffee from a routine purchase to a defining part of the guest experience. The Barista Collective programme aims to equip baristas with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to deliver consistently high-quality coffee while fostering meaningful customer interactions.
At the heart of the programme is a focus on craft, collaboration and community. More than 20 “coffee champions” from across Sodexo’s operations have been brought together to help shape and deliver the initiative, each completing an intensive Train the Trainer course. These individuals will now lead Level 1 and Level 2 barista training across the business, embedding best practice and raising standards throughout its sites.
The Level 1 course provides a solid grounding for both new and existing baristas, concentrating on core skills and operational excellence. Level 2 builds on this foundation with a deeper dive into coffee as a product and craft, covering areas such as bean selection, processing methods, roasting, sensory development and advanced brewing techniques.
In a move described as an industry-first, Sodexo has also partnered with HIT Training to launch an eight-month Barista & Hospitality Excellence apprenticeship. The programme combines technical coffee expertise with broader hospitality skills, supporting participants to develop professionalism, confidence and long-term career prospects within the sector.
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Julian Weresch, Head of Coffee & Franchises at Sodexo UK & Ireland, said the initiative represents a shift in how coffee training is viewed within the business. “The Barista Collective is much more than a training programme. Built around three core pillars – craft, collaboration and community – it has been designed to support and empower our baristas. It reflects a move away from seeing coffee training as purely technical, recognising instead its importance in shaping the guest experience and turning everyday transactions into memorable moments.”
Sodexo serves more than nine million cups of coffee annually across around 300 client sites in the UK and Ireland, underlining the strategic importance of coffee within its offer.
With a 60-year track record of delivering services across complex and varied environments – from workplaces and schools to healthcare, defence and major events – the company’s latest initiative reinforces its commitment to quality, consistency and service-led innovation across its hospitality operations.
