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Mitie has launched Plan Thrive – a bold commitment to uplift one million lives, transform 1,000 places, and champion inclusive partnerships across the country.
Rooted in insight and Mitie’s purpose of creating “Better Places and Thriving Communities”, Plan Thrive is Mitie’s response to the growing need for successful businesses to drive meaningful social impact. New research shows that only 18 per cent of people in the UK feel they are truly thriving. Plan Thrive aims to change that by boosting support for the communities it serves through Mitie’s UK-wide reach and 76,000-strong workforce.
Focusing on people, places and partnerships, Plan Thrive is built on three pledges, all of which will be delivered over the next three years:
- To uplift one million lives
New research commissioned by Mitie found that only 18 per cent of people in the UK feel they are truly thriving, with the majority (37 per cent) saying they are “just getting by”. Over half (52 per cent) identified financial stability as the most important factor in thriving, followed by quality sleep (48 per cent) and a good work/life balance (43 per cent) with two fifths (39 per cent) defining thriving as always improving and learning to become a better version of themselves.
Plan Thrive responds to these challenges with a suite of solutions to drive opportunities for long term, sustainable and fulfilling employment including: using inclusive recruitment and breaking down barriers to employment for groups such as care leavers, ex-offenders, and the long-term unemployed; empowering transitions into work with mentoring, wellbeing support, and role-specific training; and enabling sustainable careers through structured learning and development, an inclusive culture, internal mobility, and wellbeing resources.
- To transform 1,000 places
The research shows that half (50 per cent) of people believe their community is thriving, yet nearly one in five (18 per cent) do not. People associate thriving communities with safety (54 per cent), low crime (53 per cent), clean streets (50 per cent), green spaces (48 per cent), and friendly neighbours (46 per cent). Conversely, high crime (50 per cent), feeling unsafe (33 per cent), and visible signs of decline, such as closed shops, homelessness, and high unemployment (all 32 per cent), are seen as indicators that a community is struggling.
Plan Thrive is designed to help local communities prosper through a place-based approach using local insight and demographic data to understand what the community needs. This will be done by engaging directly with customers and residents to co-create solutions, investing in local infrastructure, supporting skills development and using Mitie’s skills and expertise, from revitalising shared spaces to building green assets. Mitie will also give back through volunteering and community initiatives that bring people together and foster pride in place.
Two-thirds of people say the community they live in (85 per cent) and work in (65 per cent) impacts their wellbeing, yet only 42 per cent feel their community actively helps them thrive. Plan Thrive recognises that thriving communities are essential to individual wellbeing and national prosperity so by tailoring activity to local priorities and working in partnership, Mitie will help to create cleaner, safer, and more inclusive environments.
- To champion inclusive partners
Recognising that meaningful change doesn’t happen in isolation, Mitie will deepen partnerships across its supply chain, customers, and social value delivery partners to deliver long-term impact. This includes working with its customers, supply chain and referral partners such as Shaw Trust, Maximus, Catch 22, Fedcap, and DWP to support individuals into employment, and other charitable and social enterprises across the UK to support local priorities.
The Mitie Foundation, which has been building employment pathways, volunteering opportunities and supporting fundraising for over 12 years, plays a central role in enabling these partnerships. By aligning on shared goals and amplifying collective impact, Plan Thrive enables partnerships that accelerate inclusion, unlock opportunity, and create a legacy of thriving communities.
Helen Longfils, Director of Social Value, Mitie, said: “Plan Thrive is about creating pathways for sustainable futures, both for people and the communities they live in. It’s built on a simple but powerful belief: good jobs change lives. But it’s also about more than employment – it’s about fostering prosperity in places through inclusive growth, community investment, and long-term collaboration. By listening to local needs and working in partnership, we’re creating a programme that delivers real, lasting impact where it matters most.”
