What a year for Beth
For Beth Robinson, Sodexo Operations Manager at Coventry University, 2020 was a turbulent time. In her words, read some of the highs and lows of her redeployment experience supporting Sodexo’s test centre project and the impact it has had on her.
The morning of Tuesday 21 April 2020 was a little sad; it was the day before I was due to start my time on furlough, changing my daily routine and potentially the course of my career’s future. I was working from home, frantically emptying and dealing with my inbox waiting for a chance to redeployed somewhere else in Sodexo.
Fortunately, two of my colleagues had been able to secure redeployment within Sodexo’s Healthcare team at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and I was hoping I would also have the opportunity to try my hand at something else equally as rewarding. Furlough was just not in my nature; I love to work, and I love my job.
Luckily, that same afternoon it was announced Sodexo had secured a contract with the UK Government at a new test site at the Ricoh Arena. I thought to myself, “This is it - my chance to redeploy!”. As soon as I could, I contacted my manager to discuss the opportunity. My manager knew how much I didn’t want to be furloughed, and of course supported me. Little did I know at the time, but in the background the project’s HR lead had already made contact and Sodexo colleagues from Coventry University had been earmarked as potential support.
The following day I received all the details and staffing requirements for the redeployment. Bythe afternoon I had identified Sodexo colleagues, also due to be furloughed, who I could offer the chance of redeployment alongside myself; things were moving fast indeed! The next day it was confirmed the site was being scaled up, so even more of my colleagues could join us on this exciting redeployment journey.
Just two days later it was my first day on site. Six of us from Coventry University, along with colleagues from Healthcare and Sports & Leisure, arrived in the morning to a carpark buzzing with activity. Teams of contractors were busy erecting marquees and siting huts, as well as installing power, water, and waste. There were lorries and forklifts with flashing lights and lots of beeping.
As we were new to site, we spent some time completing our important health and safety training. The training included a great deal of information about infection control and cleaning. We were kept busy because we had to make sure there was enough support arriving the next day ready for the site to open; the number of people needed had grown again and it continued to grow as the week progressed.
The following day the site made so much more sense – the cones were perfectly laid out and a fully-fledged test centre was ready for operation. A nervous yet eager workforce arrived; they were a mixed bunch of redeployed people ready to be trained in their new roles. Some of the team were baristas, food service assistants and chefs, with their new roles a far cry from their usual jobs.
Coronavirus (Covid-19) was still an unknown, yet all of them turned up, putting themselves on the front line. They had no idea what to expect, but their managers had put their faith in me, and they’d put their faith in their managers to be kept safe. By lunchtime, we knew it was going to be a challenging day, with some of my Sodexo colleagues turning down redeployment as they realised their new role just wasn’t for them.
For the next two weeks, it was all stations are go! What an amazing, exhausting, and exhilarating time; I did things I never imagined I’d do or even thought I’d be capable of doing.
Since April 2020, I have helped redeploy more than 50 Sodexo colleagues to support the UK Government’s testing program and continue to support with 10 of my colleagues still out there. Now, as things are slowly returning to normal, I am back at Coventry University supporting students on site, with the team continuing to provide a meal plan throughout, and waiting for the full return to campus in September.2021.
Throughout my redeployment journey, I have learnt a lot about myself and my team. I have also learnt new skills specifically about resilience, the ability to change, to effect change and to embrace it, all whilst challenging others to do the same. I can confidently say it was the most rewarding three months of my life and I’d do it all over again tomorrow.
Find out more how Sodexo encourages professional development at work on the careers section of this website.