Recognising our people-first culture and commitment to inclusive growth We’re proud to announce that NJC has been...
Recognising our people-first culture and commitment to inclusive growth
We’re proud to announce that NJC has been recognised at the 2025 Includability Awards, winning two national honours that celebrate organisations creating truly inclusive, people-focused workplaces.
NJC has been awarded:
Talent Management Award
Includability Committed Employer (Over 100 Employees)
These awards recognise organisations that prioritise employee wellbeing, inclusion, development and sustainable workplace culture, marking NJC as a leading inclusive employer within the UK facilities management and commercial cleaning industry.
The awards are delivered by Includability B Corp, a platform dedicated to spotlighting businesses that are actively shaping fairer, more inclusive and purpose-driven working environments.
You can learn more about the awards here:
🔗 www.weareincludability.co.uk
🔗 www.weareincludability.co.uk/resources/celebrating-brilliance-the-2025-includability-awards-winners
Talent Management Award
Recognising inclusive career development & succession planning
The Talent Management Award celebrates organisations demonstrating outstanding approaches to employee development, career progression and succession planning.
For NJC, this award reflects our commitment to supporting colleagues at every stage of their journey, from frontline cleaners to senior leadership. It recognises the structures, training and development pathways we have built to nurture talent, strengthen confidence and create long-term career opportunities.
This includes:
- Structured development programmes
- Meaningful progression routes
- Investment in leadership training
- Personalised support aligned to individual strengths
- Long-term succession planning across the business
Kieran Soar, People & Culture Director at NJC, said:
“This award is a reflection of the incredible people who make NJC what it is. Our approach to talent has always been about seeing the person first. We’re committed to supporting colleagues to grow, develop and build careers they feel proud of. To have this recognised confirms that investing in people is the foundation of a strong, sustainable organisation.”
Includability shared:
Talent Management Award 2025
Winner: NJC (Not Just Cleaning)
In a sector where talent management is notoriously tricky, NJC flipped the narrative completely.
A powerhouse of internal progression, structured development pathways and world leading CPD accredited training. With 80% of senior leaders promoted internally and staff retention consistently above 92%, NJC showcased what it means to invest in people intentionally and consistently.
Huge congratulations to Kieran and the entire NJC team.
Finalists: American Golf, Tottenham Hotspur FC, CMA Recruitment, Welsh Revenue Authority, Peak PEO.
Includability Committed Employer Award (Over 100 Employees)
Recognising scalable inclusion & culture leadership
The Includability Committed Employer Award recognises organisations with more than 100 employees that demonstrate real, measurable impact in building inclusive workplaces at scale.
It highlights businesses that actively embed inclusion, wellbeing, accessibility and cultural safety into their core operations as part of everyday practice.
For NJC, this award acknowledges:
- our approach to inclusive leadership
- visible commitment to belonging and wellbeing
- open and supportive workplace culture
- policies rooted in fairness and respect
- daily practices that enable people to thrive
It validates our belief that inclusion is fundamental to how we recruit, manage, support and grow our people.
Includability shared:
Committed Employer Award
Over 100 Employees
Winner: NJC (Not Just Cleaning)
NJC delivered meaningful cultural improvement at scale, with strong leadership, brilliant engagement and an unwavering commitment to people, sustainability, wellbeing and growth.
Finalists: Tottenham Hotspur FC, American Golf, Danone, Liverpool FC, The Gym Group.
Rooted in the CORE values and the NJC DNA
These awards reflect principles that have shaped NJC since its earliest days.
Our CORE values form the DNA of NJC and guide every decision we make.
Customer-first
We place people at the centre, because supported teams deliver exceptional service to our clients.
Openness
We create environments where people can be themselves, speak openly and feel safe to grow.
Respect
We value every individual, recognising contribution, effort and humanity beyond job titles.
Excellence
We invest in talent, training and development to allow our people to exceed expectations and build sustainable careers.
From the moment our founder, Connie Heppelthwaite, began NJC over 40 years ago, the purpose was clear: to create a company where every individual is valued and recognised as more than their role. The belief that our frontline teams are “Not Just Cleaners” but extraordinary people continues to define who we are.
A milestone for our people
These awards reflect:
- our investment in professional development and succession planning
- our commitment to inclusive workplaces
- our belief in long-term career progression
- our dedication to wellbeing and belonging
- our culture of continuous improvement
This recognition belongs to every single colleague across NJC, from our operational teams to our leadership teams, who live our values daily and shape the culture we are proud of.
Being acknowledged by an external body like Includability validates that our focus on inclusion, development and wellbeing is not only purposeful, but impactful. It tells our clients, partners and future colleagues that NJC is a place where careers are nurtured, voices are heard and people are supported.
Looking ahead
We remain committed to strengthening inclusion, expanding opportunity and nurturing talent across all levels of the business and continue to invest in people, embed inclusive leadership and create spaces where colleagues feel respected, shared and supported.
We are grateful to the Includability team for shining a light on organisations that are making a difference and for creating platforms that encourage better, more inclusive working environments across the UK.
Learn more about the Includability Awards and their mission here:
🔗 https://www.weareincludability.co.uk/resources
Our thanks
To every NJC colleague, thank you.
Your work, care, consistency and commitment make this achievement possible.
We also extend our thanks to Dave Holby-Wolinski and the Includability team for creating a platform that champions organisations driving real cultural change. We’re honoured to be part of a community working towards fairer, more inclusive working environments.
Congratulations to all nominees and winners.
It’s inspiring to stand alongside organisations raising the standard of workplace culture across the UK.
