Welcome to the first edition of Voices from Entegra, our new series spotlighting the people behind Entegra’s purpose. We’re kicking things off with Victoria Halliwell, our Vendor Governance and Social Impact Manager. With a strong background in procurement and a clear passion for driving meaningful change, Vickie as she prefers to be known) is helping to shape how we work with suppliers, deliver social value, and support our clients in making more ethical, sustainable choices.
 

1. Let’s start with your role. What does a typical day look like for you?

Every day’s a little different, but at the core, my role is about making sure we work with our suppliers in a way that’s ethical, responsible and aligned to our values. That spans everything from modern slavery prevention and social impact to supplier oversight and ISO compliance. I helped build this role when I saw a gap between all the great things we were doing and how little we were talking about them. I’m CIPS qualified in procurement and currently doing an apprenticeship in Sustainability for Business Management, so I get to combine those two worlds every day.
 

2. You’ve been a real champion for tackling modern slavery. Why is that issue so important to you, and what have you put in place?

Modern slavery is something I care deeply about. It’s often seen as a distant issue, but the reality is that it can exist anywhere in the supply chain if you’re not paying close attention. It’s particularly prevalent in the hospitality sector. In fact, estimates suggest there are around 110,000 victims across Europe, so it’s not something our industry can afford to overlook. That’s why we take it incredibly seriously at Entegra. Even though we’re not legally required to publish a statement, we’ve chosen to, simply because it’s the right thing to do.

We’ve developed a robust training programme for both our teams and our clients, invested in risk management tools, and partnered with platforms like EcoVadis to gain better visibility of ethical practices across our supply base. We also complete the Government’s Modern Slavery Assessment Tool (MSAT), and we’re proud to be in the top (green) tier. This work supports frameworks like the Crown Commercial Service’s Buying Better Food and Drink Framework, which we deliver for the public sector.
 

3. What is Entegra’s Social Impact Pledge and what does it mean in real terms?

It’s a four-year roadmap that really underpins everything we do, built around four core pillars. The first is People, which is all about inclusion, social mobility and making sure wellbeing is part of how we work and not just something we talk about. Then there’s Planet, where we’re focused on sustainable procurement, a commitment to net zero, and reducing our Scope 3 emissions. Places is about giving back to the communities we serve and includes employee volunteering and fund raising, as well as supporting initiatives like the Stop Hunger Foundation and aligning our efforts with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. And finally, Partners, which is how we collaborate with others, from charities to our valued suppliers, to drive greater social value and meaningful change.
 

4. How do external partnerships play a part in your work?

A big one is Hospitality Alliance for Responsible Procurement (HARP), which we’re a founding member of, which aims to improve practices across hospitality supply chains, especially in relation to carbon reduction and modern slavery. We’re also proud to be part of the UK’s Modern Slavery Council along with our parent company, Sodexo. Beyond that, we partner with organisations like The Trussell Trust, Stop Hunger Foundation, BASE and the Youth Employment Foundation to deliver real social value. We’re always looking to expand such relationships.
 

5. ISO accreditations sound technical but why should clients care?

We’re currently aligning to five ISO standards at once: Quality, Environmental Management, Cybersecurity, Health & Safety and Business Continuity. It’s a huge business-wide effort. These standards show that we don’t just talk about good practice — we operationalise it. We’ve embedded clear responsibilities and processes that help us deliver consistent, high-quality service in an ethical way. When we achieve them, it’ll be a huge milestone for us and a clear signal to clients of our commitment to excellence, and I can’t wait to be in a position where we can announce our success to the world.
 

6. And what does vendor governance actually involve behind the scenes?

It’s about knowing our suppliers inside out and carrying out the due diligence, so our clients don’t have to. We’ve really levelled up in this area, embedding strong practices to dig deeper into our supply chains. We’re also doing more to support SMEs, for example I’m attending an Enterprise Nation in April with the aim of identifying the current barriers for smaller suppliers and helping them understand what’s expected when working with larger corporates. This type of work ties directly into frameworks like the Buying Better Food and Drink Framework and our goal of making ethical procurement more accessible.
 

7. What motivates you personally in this role?

For me, it’s about turning policy into impact. There’s a lot of talk in this space, but we’re doing the hard work behind the scenes to make sure that social value, ethical practice and supplier support aren’t just buzzwords, they’re part of our DNA. And that’s something I’m extremely proud to be a part of.

From modern slavery prevention to supporting SMEs and setting the standard through ISO certifications, (Interviewee)’s work plays a vital role in helping us, and our clients, operate more ethically and sustainably. It's a powerful reminder that behind every supply chain decision is an opportunity to make a difference.

If you're looking to strengthen your own supply chain strategy or explore how we can support your ESG goals, get in touch. We’d love to talk.