Mitie has been named a recipient of the Gold Award on the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme, demonstrating its strong commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community.
The Employer Recognition Scheme recognises public and private sector organisations that have provided exceptional support to the UK Armed Forces, going beyond their Armed Forces Covenant pledges. The Gold Award is the highest accolade granted under the Scheme, reserved for businesses with the strongest commitment to supporting the military community. Mitie’s Gold Award builds on the Silver it received last year, reflecting its increasing efforts to support a military community of over 1,300 employees.
The Gold Award is testament to Mitie’s demonstration that it has actively engaged with and supported the armed forces community, including veterans, reservists and family members of those in the forces. Over the past 12 months Mitie has introduced a number of new initiatives, including providing an additional ten days paid leave – up from five days unpaid – for Reservists to attend their training and mobilisation commitments.
Mitie has also established new mentoring and career transition support for those leaving the Forces as they transition to civilian life. With support from the ‘Mitie Military’ armed forces network, employees can access mentoring, with ongoing support and advice on furthering their career at Mitie. Meanwhile, the network has also supported the Career Transition Partnership to provide individuals leaving the forces with hands-on experience to better understand the facilities management sector and how to kick-start their career in FM.
Mitie has also expanded support for the Armed Forces outside its own business by encouraging its suppliers to work with the defence community too. This includes running a series of supplier engagement days across the country, attended by over 250 businesses, to explain the benefits of employing from within the Armed Forces community and how to better support these individuals.
Charles Antelme, Head of Defence, Mitie, said:
“We are incredibly proud to have received the Gold Award recognising our support for the Armed Forces community. It is acknowledgement of the great strides we have made in supporting the wider military family, especially considering we received the Silver Award just one year ago. Our Mitie Military are an incredibly important part of our business, bringing new perspectives, ideas and skills at every level of the organisation. We are committed to continuing to build our support for the Armed Forces making a positive impact for veterans, reservists and forces’ families both inside Mitie and beyond.”
Johnny Mercer, Minister for Defence People and Veterans, said:
“The breadth and diversity of the winners this year shows how business support for the Armed Forces continues to grow no matter the sector, company size or location. I am grateful for the positive attitude and flexible policies these organisations have adopted towards the defence community, which is testament to the fantastic contribution our serving personnel, veterans and their families can make to any organisation.
“I am delighted that so many companies are supporting our people and that, through this scheme, we can give them the public recognition they deserve.”
Notes to editors
About Mitie
Founded in 1987, Mitie is the UK’s leading facilities management and professional services company. It offers a range of services including Technical Services (Engineering Services, Energy, Water and Real Estate Services), Business Services (Security, Cleaning and Office Services) and Specialist Services (Care & Custody, Landscapes and Waste Management).
Mitie employs 47,500 people across the country, looking after a large, diverse, blue-chip customer base, from banks and retailers, to hospitals, schools and critical government strategic assets. It takes care of its customers’ people and buildings, by delivering the basics brilliantly and by deploying advanced technology. It is pioneering the Connected Workspace, using smart analytics to provide valuable insight and deliver efficiencies to create outstanding work environments for customers.
Find out more at www.mitie.com.
