Presented on Thursday, 8 October in London, these awards celebrate the best of the best in workplace and FM: the people, partnerships and projects making a lasting difference. Along with some of our valued customers and partners, ISS was shortlisted for five awards, and received awards in three separate categories on the night, including:

• The Social Value Awards

• The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative Award

• The People Development and Talent Retention Award

Creating opportunities and new beginnings

The Social Value Award recognised a powerful alliance between ISS, Barclays CRES and Standing Tall, which aims to support people experiencing homelessness to access full-time employment and safe accommodation. What began as a pilot has expanded into service delivery across multiple sites, creating opportunities in cleaning, logistics, portering, front-of-house and other essential FM roles.

Connecting potential with employment

ISS’s partnership with UBS and DFN Project SEARCH won the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative Award. Through ISS UK & Ireland’s “Potential Exists Everywhere” programme, the partnership provides structured work placements, supported internships and sustained employment opportunities for young people who have learning disabilities or are autistic. Since 2023, the programme has employed or secured external employment for more than 100 interns across cleaning, security, catering and front-of-house roles.

Developing diverse leadership for the future

Finally, the People Development and Talent Retention Award went to ISS’s Women in Leadership Programmes, developed and delivered with our partners at Learnmore. Launched in March 2024, the Women in Leadership Apprenticeship Programme combines practical leadership training, personal insight and a recognised management apprenticeship to support progression into senior leadership roles. More than 75 leaders have participated across rolling cohorts, with the partnership subsequently extending the model into Culture, Race and Ethnicity leadership apprenticeships.

Together, the three awards recognise partnerships that open up opportunities and help people build lasting careers. Each delivers social value and social mobility in its own way, for our colleagues, our business, our customers’ businesses and the communities we serve. They reflect ISS’s People-First approach to FM, which places colleagues, customers and building users at the heart of service delivery, and our Mission Possible commitment to creating opportunity. Learn more about our Mission Possible strategy.

Scott Davies, Chief Executive Officer at ISS UK & Ireland, said:

“These three wins mean a great deal because of what sits behind them: people finding employment, building confidence and taking the next step in their careers.

“Of course, none of this happens without customers who share our values. They help us support worthy organisations like DFN Project SEARCH and Standing Tall, and together we show how facilities management can create opportunities that make a lasting difference. Congratulations to everyone involved, and thank you to our customers and partners for helping us turn that ambition into practical action.”

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For media enquiries:
Jonny Bisby | jonny.bisby@uk.issworld.com | Tel: +44 (0) 7542 269 965

About ISS:
ISS is a leading workplace experience and facilities management company, operating in more than 30 countries, with more than 27,000 employees across the UK and Ireland. ISS provides workplace solutions that contribute to better business performance and make life easier, more productive and enjoyable, delivered by people who care.