Mitie wins at European employee volunteering awards

Employee Volunteering Awards 2011,were announced at an exclusive reception held at The Business Design Centre. The awards are organised by Business in the Community and co-funded by the European Commission and are closely aligned to the European Year of Volunteering 2011.

MITIE Group was crowned winner in the Innovation category for The Real Apprentice Programme. Its twelve-week operational programme works to break down barriers and help the long-term unemployed and people with a physical or mental disability back into the world of work.

The programme comprises five main parts, which range from face to face interviews to managing a budget and working beside personnel from MITIE. It targets people who are unemployed and are facing barriers to work because of their disabilities, or for being homeless or single parents on benefits.The programme has achieved excellent results, with 197 people taking part, 134 completing and 98 receiving permanent job offers.

Ruby McGregor-Smith, chief executive MITIE Group commented: “We are very proud of this ground-breaking programme, which helps people to find employment and really has changed the futures of the people who take part. Not only is there a social and moral case for working together to make a difference to peoples' lives, but there's also a solid business case.

The Real Apprentice is about people helping people, and we encourage all individuals and organisations to get involved.”