Employability
Through our employability programme, we work with our referral partners to support recruitment and provide feedback for their clients, delivering government initiatives to support those with barriers to work.
In FY26, the Foundation continued to expand its network of over 50 charity and referral partners supporting candidate pipelines across the UK. Lunch and Learn sessions for hiring managers, particularly in Security, Cleaning and Technical Services, continued to raise awareness of the value Foundation candidates bring. Our careers portal and resourcing team’s monthly engagement ensures hiring managers across every region can identify and champion Foundation candidates.
FY26 Employability headline statistics:
- Total hires through the Foundation Employability programme: FY26: 138
- Number of Ready2Work programmes delivered: FY26: 15
- Geographic reach: eight regions across England, Scotland and Wales
In FY26, the Foundation continued to deliver employability programmes while undertaking a comprehensive review of its employability model to strengthen alignment with workforce demand, improve long-term outcomes and align with Plan Thrive ambitions. As part of this review, delivery was intentionally more targeted to enable the development of a more sustainable approach towards future activity.
The future of Employability
In FY27, the Foundation will begin rolling out a more focused and scalable employability model, embedding supported hiring within workforce planning and improving vacancy matching. This includes the Ready2Work self-delivery model, alongside enhanced partner alignment, candidate support and data capability, designed to drive stronger and more sustained employment and retention outcomes.
Making cleaning inspiring and inclusive
Heather Downes, Head of Innovation and Product Development at the Cleaning & Hygiene Centre of Excellence, has significantly transformed community engagement and the development of future talent within the sector. Through creative outreach and technology-driven initiatives, Heather has actively challenged stereotypes about cleaning and opened doors for individuals who have traditionally been furthest from the job market, such as those with special educational needs and language barriers.
Promoting social value through inclusive hiring practices
In recent years, Mitie has seen a decline in engineering talent due to factors such as COVID-19 and Brexit. The ageing population and reduced interest in the engineering sector have further exacerbated this issue. To address this challenge, Chris, a senior leader at Mitie, decided to sponsor an inclusive hiring programme designed to attract and retain diverse talent.