Press Release 12 October 2021

Mitie announced as three-time award winner for its diversity and inclusion initiatives

  • Mitie has been named the winner in two categories, ‘Best Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Initiative’ and ‘Best Learning Initiative for Business Culture’, at the Business Culture Awards 2021
  • Both awards recognise Mitie’s bespoke ‘Count Me In’ learning programme, focused on promoting diversity and inclusion
  • The Mitie Foundation has also won the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion ‘Driving Social Inclusion in the Workplace’ Award for its Ready2Work programme

Mitie, the UK’s leading facilities management company, has recently been acknowledged for its industry leading approach to supporting diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the workplace, by receiving three awards for its D&I initiatives.

Mitie received two wins at the Business Culture Awards 2021 for its bespoke ‘Count Me In’ learning programme, aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Mitie was named as winner in the ‘Best Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Initiative’ and ’Best Learning Initiative for Business Culture’ categories.

The ‘Count Me In’ initiative focuses on driving inclusion at Mitie and creating a culture where everyone can bring their true selves to work. The programme was created with its partner t-three especially for Mitie and has been developed based on feedback from Mitie colleagues regarding their experiences with inclusion. Designed as a long-term initiative, there are four phases of the programme, which include e-learning modules, as well as workshops, coaching, gamification, team talks, social media engagement, and a bespoke 360 feedback programme for senior managers in the business.

The first two phases of the initiative include ‘Count On Me’ – encouraging colleagues to reflect and develop their own understanding of diversity and inclusion – and ‘Count On Us’ – which focuses on creating an environment where it’s safe for everyone to speak up. The programme will continue to develop and evolve over time, with new training developed based on further feedback from Mitie employees.

Adding to the list of recent awards, the Mitie Foundation has also won the ‘Driving Social Inclusion in the Workplace’ category at the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion (ENEI) Awards, for its flagship ‘Ready2Work’ programme. The scheme looks to break barriers for those who may face difficulties securing employment by offering a diverse range of enthusiastic and capable individuals the opportunity to gain work experience across the Mitie business. To date, more than 500 people have completed the Ready2Work programme, with many securing employment with Mitie after their placement.

“We’re so proud to share that Mitie has won three awards showcasing our dedication and commitment to creating an inclusive place to work. One of our core values is ‘Our diversity makes us stronger’, and so we will continue to do everything we can to ensure that Mitie is a place where every colleague feels they can bring their true selves to work.”

Jasmine Hudson, HR Director, Mitie Group

In addition to Count Me In and the Ready2Work scheme, Mitie has a number of other initiatives in place to encourage inclusion. This includes its seven employee networks, CHORD (its race and ethnicity network), Mitie Women Can, Parents and Carers, Mitie Military, Proud to Be, Generations and Enable (its network dedicated to disability-related topics), which encourage colleagues to engage, educate, and have conversations around diversity. In addition, many members of Mitie’s senior leadership team are involved in reverse mentoring programmes with the employee networks, and the business also regularly holds ‘Equality at Mitie Summits’ hosted by the Chief Executive, which the whole company can attend.

Notes to editors

About Mitie

Founded in 1987, Mitie’s job is to look after places where Britain works and is the leading facilities management company in the UK. We offer a range of services to Central Government and Defence customers; Communities (Healthcare, Education and Local Authorities); and Technical Services (Engineering Services, Energy, Water and Real Estate Services) and Business Services (Security, Cleaning and Office Services) to Private Sector clients in Financial Services, Manufacturing, Transport, Retail and Telecoms and increasingly to the public sector. Finally, our Specialist Services (Care & Custody, Landscapes and Waste Management) division serves both the public and private sector in higher margin niche businesses.

Mitie acquired Interserve’s FM business in December 2020 and now employs 75,000 people. We are the champion of the ‘Front-Line Heroes’ who have kept Britain working during the COVID-19 pandemic. We take care of our customers’ people and buildings, through the ‘Science of Service’, delivering essential services and deploying industry leading technology to create safe and effective workspaces.

The business continues to execute its technology-led strategy and in the past six months has received multiple awards.

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