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Organisations join Mitie to help UK thrive
From the applause in the auditorium, the ambition of organisations collaborating to create social value really struck a chord.
Right at the end of the video launching Mitie’s Plan Thrive campaign, over 100 guests showed their approval for what the programme sets out to achieve.
As a deepening of our commitment to the communities we serve, in the next three years Mitie has pledged to:
- Uplift one million lives through social mobility, inclusion and wellbeing
- Enable 1,000 places to prosper
- Champion and invest in partnerships and supply chain to deliver sustainable impact
- Measure and report our progress transparently
Hosted at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden on Tuesday 1 July, the launch brought together leaders, sustainability experts, customers and charity and social enterprise partners to learn more about Mitie’s drive to increase social impact.
In his welcome address, Mitie CEO, Phil Bentley, said: “Transport gives connections to jobs, economic inclusion and prosperity. That makes this venue the perfect place to launch our social value strategy.”
Pulling the lever of meaningful employment
In an engaging introduction, Mitie’s Group Director of Social Value, Helen Longfils, revealed Plan Thrive is the culmination of nine months’ work to design a programme that delivers tangible impact.
To better understand what ‘thriving’ means to people, the project team commissioned a survey of 2,000 individuals across the UK – and the results were surprising.
Helen said: “Only 15% of people in the UK say they are thriving. Meanwhile over half said thriving is about financial stability…This is a lever that Mitie can pull, because good jobs change lives. Meaningful employment uplifts families and entire communities.”
Ripple effect of changing one life
The guest speaker was National Account Manager for Reed in Partnership, Sundeep Patel.
Sundeep gave a candid account of his own struggles with employment, which mean he is ideally placed to help others in desperate situations through his current role.
He said: “I have experienced how isolating and disheartening unemployment can be. In 2007, I was out of work for 18 months. I went through countless applications without success. But it was a turning point in my life. I joined a welfare-to-work programme, which gave me back a sense of purpose and confidence in my ability. In April 2008, I gained a role with Reed in Partnership, helping those who are facing the very same challenges.”
Reflecting on his circumstances, Sundeep called on organisations to get behind Plan Thrive to break down barriers to employment.
He said: “Changing one life can create a ripple effect – changing families, communities and future generations. Plan Thrive has the potential to do this on a mass scale. It’s hard to know where to start, but it’s important we do that today…Let’s all thrive together.”
“Employment gives everyone a future”
There was an equally enthusiastic response to a second video, which presented Mitie’s efforts to help people facing barriers to employment in collaboration with Essex County Council.
Featuring the Council’s Employability Worker in the Care Leavers department, Keely Hutchings, the short film emphasised how organisations working together create far more impact than they would alone.
Keely said: “We want everyone to have a future, and employment gives everyone a future. It gives them chances, more importantly, it gives them choices. To address the challenges that are currently facing our care leavers, we work very closely with Mitie, and we work in partnership.”
The video ended with two inspiring stories of lives that have been turned around thanks to Mitie’s collaboration with the Council.
Asmerom Tedros shared his positive journey as an apprentice Property Maintenance Operative, while Ben Bailey spoke about the impact of his electrical apprenticeship.
Ben said: “The difference Mitie makes to disadvantaged people like myself is offering them an opportunity when all seems gone. The trajectory of my life has changed, ever since I got the call from Mitie.”
Join the journey
With the promise of tea, cake and networking to follow, the formal event drew to a close.
Summing up the purpose of Plan Thrive, Helen Longfils encouraged organisations to get involved and support Mitie.
Helen said: “Come join us on the journey. We encourage you to spot the opportunities, align ambitions and work together to make real change. When we work with shared ambition and drive progress, we can unlock the full potential within individuals and communities.”
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