Mitie is delighted to announce that is has today been named as one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Women, for the third consecutive year.
The FTSE 250 strategic outsourcing company places huge importance on attracting, developing and retaining the best female talent, and providing a supportive and inclusive environment for its people.
Inclusion in the list demonstrates that Mitie has displayed strong leadership in gender equality, embedding a culture of diversity in its business strategy and throughout the organisation.
Mitie recognises diversity as a key differentiator within the FM sector and has maintained a focus on gender balance through involvement with external schemes promoting equality.
These include a partnership with charity Working Chance, to assist women offenders in making the transition back into work, and a targeted campaign to encourage women into under-represented trade apprenticeships such as plumbing, electrical, and construction.
Mitie has also implemented several other initiatives to further develop a progressive culture within the organisation.
These include a dedicated maternity coaching programme and focus on flexible working to retain female talent, a company wide mentoring programme, and an externally chaired diversity steering committee, supported by a network of diversity champions throughout the organisation.
Chief Executive of Mitie, Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE, who also chairs the Women’s Business Council, said:
“We are thrilled to be included in the Times Top 50 Employers for Women for the third consecutive year.
“As Mitie grows as a business, it is only by harnessing our diversity of talent that we will continue to succeed. Providing an environment of support and inclusion for all of our people is integral to nurturing talent and ensuring Mitie is leading the way in our commitment to diversity.”
Ruby McGregor-Smith, the first Asian women to lead a FTSE 250 company, also set up and remains involved in a mentoring circle for black, Asian and minority ethnic women, aimed at inspiring women to fulfil their potential and break through the ‘glass ceiling’.
Kathryn Nawrockyi, acting director of Opportunity Now, which manages The Times Top 50 Employers for Women list and judging process, said:
“All organisations included in The Times Top 50 Employers for Women must be praised for their commitment to the recruitment, retention and progression of their female talent.
“The high number of entries and high calibre of comprehensive activity made the judging process extremely competitive, but it is clear that this year’s Top 50 are leading the charge on organisational and cultural change, embedding accountability and delivery of activity at all levels, from the CEO to line managers.”
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For further information, contact:
Bell Pottinger
Rebecca Lloyd-Wright
D: +44 20 7861 2499
E: rlloydwright@bell-pottinger.co.uk
Notes for editors
The Times Top 50 process
Opportunity Now managed The Times Top 50 Employers for Women list and judging process. Entry was by self nomination and open to any employer with a UK presence. Employers had to supply detailed information on what their organisation does internally as a top employer for women as well as what it does externally to promote gender equality, diversity and inclusion and to create opportunities for women in a wider context. Organisations were required to supply two case study stories of specific initiatives/programmes which demonstrated the work they were doing to create culture change. All the 4,500 word entry forms were stringently marked against a framework of best practice. The entries were assessed on an anonymous basis by a team of gender experts within Opportunity Now.
About Opportunity Now
Opportunity Now is the workplace gender campaign from Business in the Community. For information about Opportunity Now's work on diversity and inclusion, please see http://opportunitynow.bitc.org.uk/.
About Business in the Community
Business in the Community stands for responsible business. With a membership of over 850 companies, engagement in 10,700 organisations internationally and an employee reach of 14.7 million, Business in the Community is raising the benchmark for responsible business practice. We offer our members practical support to help them transform their businesses and integrate responsible practices into their operations. And we ask our members to work in partnership with us to help transform communities and tackle serious social issues where business can make a real difference. Business in the Community is one of the Prince’s Charities, a group of not-for-profit organisations of which The Prince of Wales is President. www.bitc.org.uk.
For further information please contact Rebecca Gregory, Communications Officer, Opportunity Now:
Tel: +44(0)207 566 6670 | +44(0)7803 027 973
Email & twitter: rebecca_gregory@bitc.org.uk | @rebecca_g
