Volunteering award win for MITIE

13th of May 2011
Volunteering award win for MITIE

UK-based building services provider MITIE has won a European Employee Volunteering Award for improving the employability skills of people who face barriers getting back to work.

The group was crowned winner in the Innovation category for its Real Apprentice Programme. This 12-week scheme 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 state benefits.

The results have been impressive – 197 people have taken part, with 134 completing the programme and 98 receiving permanent job offers.

Ruby McGregor-Smith, chief executive for MITIE Group commented on the win. “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 people’s lives, but there’s also a solid business case.”

The European Employee Volunteering Awards attracted entries from 22 countries.

For more details of the scheme visit www.bitc.org.uk/global/european_volunteering_awards

 

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