Welsh social enterprise turns cleaning contracts into mental health support for workers

Every contract awarded to social enterprise Lifft Cleaning helps generate funding for mental health support across the UK, enabling organisations to create meaningful social impact alongside cleaner, healthier workplaces. Owned by a Welsh mental health charity, Lifft reinvests its profits into delivering vital services that help individuals and communities access the support they need.

Wholly owned by Platfform, Lifft delivers professional commercial cleaning and support services to organisations across Wales and beyond. But unlike conventional cleaning providers, every contract also creates opportunities for employees to access mental health support, counselling, training and wellbeing services.

Lifft enables organisations to generate social value through a service they already purchase, without additional cost. When businesses commission Lifft, they are not only investing in cleaner, safer working environments, but also helping to fund mental health support for people and communities across Wales.

Through its unique relationship with Platfform, clients can access routes into mental health support for employees, including counselling, workplace wellbeing initiatives, training and early intervention support. This creates a practical way for organisations to support their people while fulfilling their social value commitments.

Sean Richards, Managing Director, Lifft said: “Every organisation needs cleaning services, but not every cleaning contract can help change lives. We know that many employers want to do more to support their staff’s wellbeing but are facing increasing pressures on budgets and resources. Lifft gives organisations an opportunity to invest in a professional cleaning service while creating access to mental health support for their workforce and communities. 

“Mental health affects every workplace in Wales. By choosing Lifft, organisations can make a positive impact through a service they already buy, helping to create healthier workplaces and stronger communities across the nation.”

Platfform has spent decades working to improve mental health outcomes and create a society where everyone has the conditions for good mental health. Through Lifft, the charity has developed a sustainable business model that reinvests commercial income into community impact, reducing reliance on traditional fundraising and grants while expanding access to vital services.

As businesses face increasing expectations around employee wellbeing, ESG and social value, Lifft is demonstrating how everyday purchasing decisions can have a lasting impact. By combining high-quality service delivery with direct investment in mental health support, it is proving that commercial success and social purpose can go hand in hand.

Richards continued: “For Welsh employers, the message is simple: a cleaning contract can do far more than keep buildings clean, it can help support the wellbeing of staff, strengthen communities and contribute to a healthier Wales.

“As noted in the Public Procurement Notice (PPN 026) the UK Government has a stated wish that to ensure they include social value outcomes in public procurement to help deliver the good quality jobs, skills and opportunities needed by communities and those in most need. This follows on from the rollout of the Procurement Act 2023 (implemented from February 2025) which required social value to become a mandatory evaluation measure.

“There is no doubt that there is a growing recognition of these principles in the wider private sector across commercial contracts. More and more potential clients are seeing significant benefits from integrating social value into their tendering.”