Upbeat Proudly Receives the King’s Award for Enterprise: Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility

The King’s Award for Enterprise is the highest official UK award for British businesses. We are delighted to announce that Upbeat Clean, our commercial cleaning social enterprise, has received this award in recognition of its outstanding achievements in promoting opportunity through social mobility.

Michael Gladwell, Head of Enterprise and founder of Upbeat Clean, said, “We are honoured to have received royal recognition through this prestigious award; the first company in Derbyshire to do so. It is our privilege to partner with some fantastic organisations across the city to genuinely transform lives through cleaning, empowering people to step into their full potential.”

This year, Upbeat Clean will employ over 60 individuals, most of whom are from a refugee background, or are survivors of modern slavery. We are proud to provide life-giving employment in partnership with some of the best known brands of Derby, including Getinge, Vaillant, Derby County Community Trust, Althaus, and Derby Museums.

Chief Executive of Upbeat Communities, Andrew Jackson, shared, “We have always been an innovative charity, proactively creating solutions to the many challenges faced by people seeking sanctuary. It’s fantastic to see the Upbeat Clean team, including our incredible cleaners, recognized for their innovation and excellence.”

Upbeat Communities’ history of innovation began in 2005, when the charity was set up with the aim of empowering refugees and asylum seekers who have fled unimaginable horrors to rebuild their lives in the UK. All along, we sought to be led by those seeking sanctuary, constantly listening to them and responding to their needs with data-driven solutions that achieve lasting change.

As we journeyed with people, it became clear that many refugees experienced challenges moving on from the asylum system. One of those? Finding meaningful employment.

“Refugees experience many barriers to finding employment, from language and cultural differences, through to needing to care for children around their working hours,” Michael explained. “We discovered that the latter was a huge barrier for refugee women in particular.

Not only that, those that were able to find employment often suffered low wages and unethical contracts that didn’t offer any dignity to them or their families. We wanted to change that.”

We founded Upbeat Clean in 2021 to provide an answer to the problem of unemployment, particularly among refugee mothers. Last year, the company employed 39 cleaners, 30 of whom were from a refugee background. All were able to gain a real living wage, mentoring opportunities and supported employment, whilst having the flexibility to maintain a balanced family life.

This has revolutionized the lives of women like Crystal.

Crystal arrived in Derby feeling totally isolated. “The first day, you feel good. But after that, you feel like you are alone. To be new in a country is not easy. You arrive and you have no friends, no family at all.”

Crystal was first introduced to Upbeat Communities via our English classes. “I couldn’t speak English when I came here. I didn’t even understand the numbers when I had to buy something. People were laughing at me in the shop because I didn’t know how to pay.

Upbeat helped me a lot, beyond English classes. The volunteer who befriended me helped me to understand what to do when I was pregnant. She gave me baby clothes and essentials. Upbeat was like my second family.”

As Crystal slowly began to rebuild her life in the UK, and raise a family, Upbeat supported her into employment.

“My friend told me about a job opportunity as a cleaner. At first, I didn’t know it was Upbeat. But when I met Michael, I realised it was the same person who helped me before, in the English classes. It felt like a full circle… I started my first job in the UK at the same place where I had first learned to speak English.

Now, I am so happy to be able to provide for my family. When I get paid money, each time, I can do something for my kids.

If people come to Upbeat, they will not feel like they are alone. Upbeat Clean and Upbeat Communities are like families. They will feel free and good in Upbeat.”

Upbeat’s work welcoming refugees like Crystal has had a transformative impact. 63 people have been employed by us since 2021, each one finding a sense of belonging and independence through meaningful work.

We believe every refugee has unique skills to offer. Often, all they need is an opportunity. The result: a much brighter future for them and their families.

It’s Upbeat’s great privilege to partner with companies across the city to make this opportunity available to more refugees. Not only that, we want to be known for the outstanding service our amazing cleaners provide.

“We don’t only want to be recognised as a compassionate employer, but an excellent one,” Michael shares. “We deliver outstanding services to a wide range of customers operating in a number of different industries. Our cleaners have impeccably high standards and take great pride in their work.”

Upbeat Clean is proud to partner with 40 businesses across the city, transforming lives through cleaning.

Alex Rock, Director of Commercial and Operations at Derby Museums, shared: “Derby Museums chose to partner with Upbeat Clean, principally because of their values. They make a real difference to the world. I find it incredible that you can change people’s lives with a cleaning budget.

The quality of clean that Upbeat offer is second to none. I have had a lot of experience with other cleaning companies and I find that the service really fluctuates. Whereas with Upbeat Clean, the service is always up to exactly the same standard, and it is the highest standard.”

Director Bev Crighton shared, “As a Director of Upbeat Clean I am very proud of the team, gaining this award shows the impact we are making. It's a huge honour to be awarded this by the King, particularly in this category.

Whilst this is just the beginning for Upbeat, its the future for our employees. This will help us to grow to achieve our aim of full employment for refugee women in Derby.”

Find out more about Upbeat Clean at upbeatclean.co.uk, or email hello@upbeatclean.co.uk.

To partner with Upbeat Communities in our work to empower refugees like Crystal at all stages of their journey, donate today at upbeatcommunities.org/donate.