Facilities management and professional services firm Mitie has been awarded silver status by the Inclusive Employers Standard, in recognition of its equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) commitments.
In order to receive accreditation from Inclusive Employers, organisations demonstrate that they have delivered against its six pillars: engage, equip, empower, embed, evaluate and evolve. Mitie, which employs around 68,000 people, gained recognition after its first submission.
According to Mitie, the accreditation reflected its commitment to embedding EDI into the fabric of its business. It was also recognised for its investment in initiatives such as Count Me In, its conscious inclusion learning programme, Giving Back, its school volunteering scheme, and Ready2Work, its work experience programme for those who have experienced barriers to employment.
The firm also formed six employee networks focused on supporting inclusion and encouraging employees to engage and have conversations around diversity. These include its race and ethnicity network CHORD, its armed forces veterans, reservists and family members network Mitie Military, its gender equality network Mitie Women Can, Parents and Carers, its LGBTQ+ network Proud to Be, and Enable, which is dedicated to disability and neurodiversity related topics.
The employer also launched Inclusion Allies, a programme designed to empower staff to act as allies for different diverse groups and to drive inclusion.
Sim Sian, head of EDI at Mitie, said: “Gaining the Inclusive Employers Standard Silver Accreditation is a huge achievement and highlights the great work we are doing to embed EDI into our culture. We know our diversity makes us stronger, so we’re proud to have our position as a leading British business for EDI recognised, as we continue our focus on ensuring Mitie is an inclusive business.”
Following the pandemic, Mitie performed a review of its benefits in order to ensure its reward package promotes diversity and inclusion. In November 2022, it introduced a financial wellbeing package that focused on rewarding those on the front-line, as well as addressing the rising cost-of-living crisis.
Mitie was named a Top 50 Inclusive UK employer for the fifth year running, ranking 17th in the overall list.