News 19 October 2022

Mitie’s employee volunteering programme wins silver at UK Social Mobility Awards

  • Mitie took home the silver award in the ‘Community Programme of the Year’ category
  • The award recognises Mitie’s approach to volunteering in schools, which is part of its wider community support programme, Giving Back
  • By targeting young people, the initiative aims to create awareness of the various routes into employment, and empower young people from all backgrounds to make informed career choice

Mitie, the UK’s leading facilities management company, was last week recognised for its school volunteering programme, with a silver award at the sixth annual UK Social Mobility Awards (SOMOs).

The initiative, which is part of Mitie’s wider ‘Giving Back’ programme, offers various sessions, activities and mentoring opportunities to students in schools across the UK, helping them navigate the often confusing path from education into employment.

Mitie colleagues can volunteer to support to students of all ages, locations and backgrounds, ensuring students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to make an informed career choice.

These initiatives also aim to address stereotypes and the notion of gender-specific roles, highlighting the opportunities that exist for everyone in industries such as tech or engineering.

Returning as an in-person event for the first time in three years following the COVID-19 pandemic, last week’s awards fundraising gala celebrated organisations from a range of industries, which are committed to advancing social mobility across the UK.

The 2022 awards received the highest number of entries since they were launched in 2017, with entrants from a range of industries including education, finance, law, media and retail.

The UK Social Mobility Awards were set up to recognise organisations that are prioritising social mobility, for example through recruitment processes and progression programmes, outreach within the local community, or by developing innovative ways to create change.

Jasmine Hudson, Chief People Officer, Mitie, said:

“We are proud that Mitie has achieved a SOMO silver award for our colleague volunteering programme, showcasing our dedication to enriching the lives of students. As a people business employing 72,000 colleagues we recognise the vital role we play in supporting tomorrow’s workforce, which is why education is one of the key pillars of our community outreach strategy. Through this initiative, we are providing the next generation with valuable employment skills, while breaking down barriers and perceptions to champion a much more inclusive future for tomorrow’s talent.”

Tunde Banjoko OBE, Founder of the UK Social Mobility Awards, added:

“The UK Social Mobility Awards is a vehicle to raise awareness of social mobility and showcases the individuals and organisations who are dedicated to its advancement. The number and quality of entries we received for this year’s awards is an indication of the increasing significance of social mobility to UK business. I would like to congratulate all the inspiring organisations and individuals who took home a trophy this year. All the UK Social Mobility Awards finalists are making a tangible difference to social mobility in this country and this recognition is extremely well-deserved.”

Find out more about Mitie’s Giving Back programme

Read next

See Resource Archive