Mitie has launched a new Sustainability and Social Value Charter that provides suppliers with the tools to help create and deliver positive impact for people and places, while embedding sustainability within organisations. The initiative is a first of its kind within the facilities management sector, setting out a clear framework for Mitie’s supply chain which outlines benchmarks and practical steps suppliers can take to strengthen their social impact, support local communities and integrate sustainability into day-to-day operations.
Building on the foundations of Mitie’s existing Social Value and Suppliers Policy, the Charter directly supports Mitie’s Plan Thrive ambitions to uplift one million lives and enable 1,000 places to prosper by 2030. It is underpinned by five core principles:
- Climate Action and Environmental Responsibility
- Inclusive Employment and Skills Development
- Community Engagement and Place-Based Impact
- Ethical Business Practices
- Collaboration and Continuous Improvement
Mitie will support suppliers to identify realistic actions to move beyond compliance and work towards the Charter’s ambitions, helping organisations strengthen their social value and sustainability performance over time towards industry-leading practices. A Gold-Level rating will recognise organisations that demonstrate exemplary commitment to sustainability by achieving carbon reduction targets, reporting Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions through recognised platforms and maintaining ESG scores that exceed industry benchmarks. It will also recognise the adoption of the Real Living Wage, embedding inclusive recruitment practices that open opportunities for underrepresented groups and enabling sustained participation in local community initiatives.
Mitie will provide suppliers with the tools and guidance needed to enhance and report their performance. Suppliers will be supported through Mitie's relationship with Social Enterprise UK, Thrive Platform and the Supply Chain Sustainability School to bring organisations together to share and learn best practice, build capability and drive continuous improvement. Through targeted learning pathways, practical workshops and interactive webinars, suppliers can build capability in sustainable procurement and social value delivery. This collaborative learning is reinforced through supplier summits, roundtables and best-practice forums, encouraging peer learning, open dialogue and long-term partnership across the supply chain. Together, the Charter and its Gold‑Level standard seek to recognise and more visibly promote the positive contribution suppliers make to society and the environment.
The Charter’s principles are designed for suppliers of all sizes, from sole traders and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs), and large national organisations. The Charter and the support provided will be reviewed and updated annually to reflect evolving best practices and priorities.
Helen Longfils, Group Director, Social Value, Mitie, said:
“The Launch of our Sustainability and Social Value Charter marks an important step in building more collaborative relationships with our suppliers and scaling up our social impact. By setting out clear guidelines, holding one another accountable and working collaboratively, we can share knowledge and develop solutions that drive meaningful action, helping to uplift communities, protect the environment and create better places and thriving communities for the people and organisations we serve.”
Notes to editors
About Mitie: The Future of High Performing Places
Founded in 1987, Mitie employs 84,000 colleagues and is the leading technology-led Facilities Management, Transformation and Compliance company in the UK. We are a trusted partner to around 3,000 customers across the public and private sectors, working with them to transform their built estates, and the lived experience for their colleagues and customers, as well as providing data-driven insights to inform better decision-making.
In each of our core services of engineering (hard services) and security and hygiene (soft services) we hold market leadership positions. We also deliver transformational projects in the areas of power and grid connections, building fit outs & modernisation, decarbonisation, fire safety & security and telecoms infrastructure, alongside compliance capabilities in fire safety & security and environmental services. Our sector expertise includes central government, critical national infrastructure, defence, financial services, healthcare & life sciences, local government & education, retail & logistics, manufacturing & media and transport & aviation.
We hold industry-leading ESG credentials, including a place on the CDP Climate change A List, and we have received multiple awards including Best Low Carbon Solution and Net Zero Carbon Strategy of the year. We have validated science-based targets that support our ambitions to reach Net Zero. We have been recognised as a UK Top Employer for the seventh consecutive year and Most Admired Company in the Support Services sector. We are also ranked 10th in the Top 100 Apprenticeship employers and ninth in the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers list. Find out more at www.mitie.com