Better outcomes through structured collaboration

We help customers build stronger, more effective partnerships, combining shared objectives, clear governance and collaborative capability to solve complex challenges and create lasting value.

Why collaboration matters

Today’s complex facilities management environments need more than a traditional customer-supplier relationship. They require organisations to align around shared goals, make decisions together and respond collectively to changing needs.

No organisation succeeds in isolation. At Mitie, our collaborative approach helps customers and delivery teams to:

Align priorities and decision-making
Reduce risk and improve resilience
Encourage innovation and continuous improvement
Strengthen transparency and accountability
Deliver long-term value for customers and communities

As organisations increasingly look for strategic partners rather than traditional suppliers, the ability to collaborate effectively has become a key driver of long-term success.

Team meeting at Members Day for strategic collaboration

Independently certified for collaborative working

Mitie holds Group-level certification to ISO 44001, the international standard for collaborative business relationship management. This provides independent assurance that our approach is supported by clear governance, shared objectives, defined responsibilities and continuous improvement.

For customers, it means a shared framework for working together – aligning strategic goals, building trust, managing risk and creating mutual value over time.

Our Group-wide certification demonstrates that collaboration is embedded in how we build and manage strategic relationships, combining a consistent approach across Mitie with the flexibility to reflect each customer’s needs. This supports stronger, long-term partnerships focused on shared success.

Group Certification for Collaborative Business Relationships

ISO 44001, Collaborative Business Relationship Management Systems

(CBR 796919)

Shaping collaborative best practice

At Mitie, we know the value of working together, and our positive approach has been recognised through our enhanced relationship with the Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW). Alongside representatives from industry, government, academia and procurement, we play an active role in advancing collaborative working – contributing expertise, sharing practical experience and helping to shape emerging best practice.

Helping transform public procurement collaboration

Mitie played a leading role in developing the Public Procurement Collaboration Playbook through ICW’s Public Procurement Special Interest Group. The Playbook provides practical guidance to help organisations strengthen supplier relationships and embed collaboration throughout procurement and contract delivery.

It supports organisations to move beyond traditional customer-supplier relationships to create greater value, resilience and innovation through collaboration.

Download the Playbook

Bringing best practice into customer partnerships

Through ICW’s Executive Network and Special Interest Groups, Mitie contributes to cross-sector discussion, research and knowledge sharing across areas including public procurement, structured collaboration and social value. This helps us bring emerging best practice and new thinking into customer relationships.

Awards

ICW Collaboration Champion Award 2026 – Winner

IWFM Impact Awards 2021 Collaboration – Winner Mitie Defence International

ICW Awards Finalist
Defence Category

CASE STUDY

Supporting our Armed Forces overseas

The Overseas Prime Contract Germany and Wider Europe (OPC GWE) began service on 1 June 2024, marking an important step in supporting the UK Armed Forces communities based in Germany and Italy.

Strong partnership has been central to the successful mobilisation and delivery of OPC GWE. Mitie and the DIO established a shared operating model, supported by joint workshops, the creation of a Collaboration Steering Committee and the adoption of the ISO 44001 standard. Transition workshops in Naples and Paderborn led to the OPC GWE Partnering Charter. In August 2025 the contract achieved ISO 44001 certification, recognising the joint commitment to continuous improvement and high‑quality service for UK Armed Forces communities overseas.

See how Mitie works in Defence

CASE STUDY

Raising the standard for strategic collaboration with a Large Public Sector organisation

Having worked together since 2019, the LPSO and Mitie had already established a strong and collaborative relationship, supported by the Cabinet Office Strategic Supplier Relationship Management (SSRM) framework. Following a successful contract renewal, both organisations wanted to build on this foundation by aligning the existing framework with ISO 44001, the international standard for collaborative business relationships.

The process reinforced the trust, transparency and continual improvement central to the partnership. The LPSO and Mitie successfully achieved ISO 44001 certification, becoming the first UK Government contract to be recognised against the standard.

Read case study

Mitie security guards outside a hospital

CASE STUDY

Challenging assumptions to create better outcomes

The customer needed a consistent, resilient and scalable way to respond to incidents outside normal working hours across a geographically dispersed estate. The aim was to strengthen incident leadership, decision-making and escalation across the estate without introducing unnecessary resource.

The programme strengthened out-of-hours resilience while avoiding the cost and complexity of a separate response layer. By developing existing teams rather than adding dedicated resource, the partnership achieved a seven-figure net contractual cost avoidance while maintaining service assurance.

Read case study

Mitie team successful at the Collaborative Champions Awards 2026

award win

Mitie recognised as Collaborative Champions

Mitie was celebrated at an awards ceremony for collaboration leaders at the House of Lords the Collaboration Leaders. At the reception, our team were delighted to witness the recognition of Valerie Elliott, Mitie’s Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration Director, who was named as Collaborative Champion 2026.

This award recognises Valerie’s outstanding contribution to advancing collaborative working, including her leadership in shaping the Public Procurement Collaboration Playbook and her wider work to promote structured, outcome-focused partnerships.

Collaboration is built into how we work

Collaboration is more than a process at Mitie. It’s part of how we work every day.

Our approach combines clear policy and governance, specialist relationship-management expertise, practical tools and training, and an active community of Collaboration Leads and Champions. Together, these elements help our teams apply a consistent approach while responding to the specific needs of each customer and account.

One of our core beliefs is that we work best with our customers when we collaborate. By embedding collaboration into our culture and behaviours, we create the trust, openness and accountability needed to align around shared goals, address issues effectively and keep partnerships focused on long-term value.

Beliefs and behaviours
Collaboration is embedded in how we lead and work together.

Policy and governance
Clear frameworks support effective relationship management.

Training and tools
Our internal learning and development programmes provide practical collaboration resources.

Collaboration community
Collaboration Leads and Champions share knowledge and best practice across Mitie.

Build a stronger partnership with Mitie

Talk to our Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration team about aligning objectives, strengthening governance and creating more value from your facilities partnership.