Improving Social Mobility, Inclusion and Belonging in the Workplace

We are delighted that John Craven, Director of the Social Mobility Commission (SMC), will be speaking at the Whitehall & Industry Group’s event, ‘Improving Social Mobility, Inclusion and Belonging in the Workplace’.

John will be joining Shirine Khoury-Haq, Group CEO, Co-op and Dr Padmini Iyer, Head of Research and Advocacy, Making The Leap, for this special lunchtime briefing which will explore how employers can improve social mobility, inclusion and belonging, drawing on research especially commissioned by Co-op with their employees from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Employers’ Masterclass: Let’s talk about Class

In organisations across the UK, there are conversations about the importance of diversity and inclusion going on at every level in your workforce – but whilst this may address the experiences of different groups in the modern workforce, there’s a strong chance that class and socio-economic background (SEB) isn’t yet being discussed.  

Our next employer masterclass will explore what a healthy, inclusive conversation about class and socio-economic background looks like, and how you can help everyone in your workplace to get involved. 

Inside Government’s ‘The Apprenticeships Conference 2023’

We are pleased that Parminder Kohli, one of our Commissioners, will be joining Inside Government for their annual ‘The Apprenticeships Conference 2023’. This conference will explore the future of delivery, quality, access and completion for apprenticeship programmes at all levels. The Conference will offer training providers and employers an opportunity to gain practical insights on […]

The Festival of Education

John Craven, Director of the Social Mobility Commission, will be speaking at the 13th annual Festival of Education. The Festival of Education will take place at Wellington College on 6 and 7 July 2023. It will host over 300 leading speakers and over 5,500 attendees from the world of education. It promises to deliver more than […]

Westminster Insight’s ‘Social Mobility in the Workplace Conference’

We are delighted the Parminder Kohli, Commissioner at the Social Mobility Commission (SMC), will be delivering the keynote speech at Westminster Insight’s upcoming conference, ‘Social Mobility in the Workplace’. Employers and industries are increasingly focusing on socio-economic diversity as part of their inclusion strategies. Join Westminster Insight’s Social Mobility in the Workplace Conference to discover the steps you can […]

AELP’s ‘National Conference 2023’

Join Resham Kotecha, one of the Commissioners of the Social Mobility Commission, who will be giving a keynote speech at the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) National Conference -taking place on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 June at the Novotel London West. Kindly sponsored by The Skills Network, AELP’s flagship two-day conference is […]

T Levels: Industry placements – Upskilling tomorrow’s workforce

The Social Mobility Commission, in its role as a T Level Ambassador, is promoting this external event for employers. 
T Levels are a 2-year qualification designed to give young learners a head start towards the career they want, giving them a new choice of technical education after GCSEs. 
In this webinar, you’ll discover how industry placements can improve your recruitment pipeline, as well as bring many other benefits to your organisation, and participating students. An industry placement is at the heart of each T Level course, providing employers with: Early access to the brightest talent; the opportunity to shape the future of their industry.
The webinar will be delivered by the Department for Education (DfE) and Strategic Development Network (SDN). This webinar is for HR Managers, Learning and Development Managers, and others interested in hosting industry placements.

Employers’ Masterclass: Using the new SMC Data Explorer tool to drive regional change

Employers play a key role in social mobility outcomes for many.  They determine where they set up their business, the types of job roles they create, and how and who they recruit; the income set by employers impacts living standards, pension contributions, as well as spending power in their local economy; they also play an important role in the health and wellbeing of employees. However, with each part of the UK having an individual identity, history and economy, impacting its local population and their opportunities, the challenges to social mobility, and the solutions, may differ from region to region. 
That’s where we think the use of our new Data Explorer tool can help – join us at this event to find out how employers can utilise our new tool to understand their workforce distribution, provide insight for outreach activity and hiring activity, and to serve and support regional communities. 

How T Levels can contribute to your workforce development plans

The Social Mobility Commission, in its role as a T Level Ambassador, is promoting this external event for employers.
T Levels are a 2-year qualification designed to give young learners a head start towards the career they want, giving them a new choice of technical education after GCSEs. An industry placement is at the heart of each T Level course, providing employers with: Early access to the brightest talent; the opportunity to shape the future of their industry.
In this webinar, you’ll discover how T Level industry placements can be used to support the short and long-term development of your workforce. The webinar will be delivered by the Department for Education (DfE) and Strategic Development Network (SDN).
This webinar is for HR Managers, Learning and Development Managers, and others interested in hosting placements.

Westminster Higher Education Forum’s ‘Next steps for equality of opportunity in higher education’

We are pleased the John Craven, Director of the Social Mobility Commission, will be delivering the keynote speak at Westminster Higher Education Forum’s (WHEF) upcoming event, ‘Next steps for equality of opportunity in higher education’. It comes as the Office for Students consults on a new approach to regulating equality and opportunity, including additional requirements […]

Employers’ Masterclass: Outreach and social mobility

Our May masterclass will cover how employers can use outreach to build an inclusive recruitment pipeline from the ground up, reaching and attracting a wide pool of talent. Engaging with candidates from a low socio-economic background through outreach enables you to: raise awareness of your organisation and industry to a wider reach of prospective employees […]

CMI Women’s ‘Our Inclusive Future’

In the UK, there are gaps in productivity, skills, and inclusivity, and evidence shows that these challenges are interlinked. To overcome them, it is crucial to prioritise recognising and supporting talent in all its forms with a sharp focus. CMI research revealed that only a third of managers (34%) report mentoring and sponsorship programmes to […]

ICAEW’s ‘Background should be no barrier: Strengthening social mobility in the accountancy profession’

John Craven, Director of the Social Mobility Commission, will be delivering the keynote speech at the Institute of Chartered Accountants, England & Wales’ (ICAEW) next event ‘Background should be no barrier: Strengthening social mobility in the accountancy profession’. The benefits of having a socially diverse workforce are immense. This event will seek to inspire and […]

Employers’ Masterclass: Accents in the Workplace

Accent is not directly relevant to work outputs.  To get hired, or to get ahead in your organisation, you would think that what you say – rather than how you say it – would be the most important factor.  However research does not reflect this. Join us at our April masterclass to explore how you can raise awareness of the issue of accent bias in your own organisation and what steps you can take to ensure that the focus is on the knowledge and skills of the employee or candidate, and not their accent.

Westminster Education Forum’s ‘Priorities for raising attainment in England’s schools’

John Craven, Director of the Social Mobility Commission, delivered the keynote speech at Westminster Education Forum’s conference. This event assesses the next steps for raising educational attainment and addressing key factors contributing to the attainment gap across England’s schools. It took place in the context of the Schools White Paper in 2022, which set out […]

ENEI’s ‘Guest Webinar: What is Social Mobility?’

Paula Kemp, Head of Employer Engagement at the Social Mobility Commission, took part as a guest speaker at ENEI’s event, ‘What is Social Mobility?’. During the event, Paula spoke about: Social mobility and the current position Why employers should get involved The impact and benefits How this can be applied in the workplace Best practice […]

Employers’ Masterclass: The art of using storytelling to build inclusion

At the heart of every organisation is its people – all with a personal story to share that shapes and defines them.  Harnessing the power of personal storytelling as part of your Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) strategy is an effective way to build inclusion into your workplace culture and gain the trust of your employees […]

Can we increase social mobility by improving young people’s access to information about the labour market value of HE and FE qualifications?

Join the SMC on Tuesday 28th February for an online event discussing the implications of our Interim Report, part of an action assigned to us by the government in relation to Inclusive Britain. Our report showed how different HE and FE qualifications can vary significantly in the labour market returns they offer, that those from […]

Employers’ Masterclass: Using Apprenticeships to improve social mobility and build skills for life

Our next masterclass will explore the role of apprenticeships and how they can drive social mobility and develop skills for individuals and the workforce. Employers and training providers rely on apprenticeship schemes to provide new opportunities, upskill people from inside and outside their organisation and contribute to a more innovative, inclusive workforce. One of the […]

Data Bites – Data for social mobility: improving the collection and availability of data across government

In December 2022, the Social Mobility Commission published their latest report, ‘Data for social mobility: improving the collection and availability of data across government‘. Join us on Wednesday 25 January as we launch the report at the Institute for Government’s event series, Data Bites, where members of the SMC will speak alongside similarly data driven […]

The Whitehall & Industry Group’s: ‘A New Approach to Social Mobility’ with John Craven, Director, Social Mobility Commission

We are delighted that John Craven, Director of the Social Mobility Commission (SMC), will be speaking on Tuesday 24 January at the Whitehall & Industry Group’s latest event, ‘A New Approach to Social Mobility’. Following the release of the SMC’s State of the Nation Report 2022, John will providing a deep dive onto the topic, […]

Business in the Community’s ‘Time to Act: Addressing Inequalities in Education’

John Craven, Director of the Social Mobility Commission is pleased to be a part of this Business in the Community (BITC) event. He will be sharing the key challenges faced in education and what businesses can be doing to help. As an employer, you can register for this BITC event to hear from John and […]

Employers’ Masterclass: Using workforce data to understand and improve social mobility

As an employer, data is one of the most important tools you have to understanding and improving diversity in your workplace, including social mobility. However, many employers report that collecting socio-economic data remains their biggest challenge. Collecting relevant and high quality data is necessary when challenging social mobility for a number of reasons. It allows […]

Employer Event: T Levels: What, why, where and how?

Keen to explore different ways of reaching a widening talent pool for your early in career hires?  T Levels may be just what you are looking for.   T Levels are an alternative to A levels and other further education courses. Equivalent to 3 A levels, a T Level focuses on vocational skills and can help […]

In conversation with Ann Francke OBE: The building blocks of social mobility in the workplace

In our next event for employers we will be exploring the building blocks of social mobility with Ann Franke OBE, Chief Executive of the Chartered Management institute (CMI). Through our conversation with Ann, we will explore: how organisations can develop an social mobility strategy; the initial steps organisations should take to kickstart their socio-economic diversity journey; the role of senior leaders and managers in boosting inclusion and widening opportunities; how to ensure your organisation is an environment where all staff can thrive, regardless of background

Social Mobility Employers Masterclass: Mentoring as a tool to support social mobility

To celebrate National Mentoring Day (27 October), our October employers’ masterclass will explore the importance of mentoring in supporting workplace progression and social mobility.
Mentoring partnerships can range from a localised, informal arrangement to a highly organised, official programme that spans across industries. Participants in mentoring programmes range from students from lower socio-economic backgrounds being matched with employees from a particular industry, to senior leaders being matched with junior members of staff in reverse mentoring programmes.

The Lord Mayor’s Appeal: ‘The Power of Inclusion Launch 2022’ event

The Social Mobility Commission is pleased to support The Lord Mayor’s Appeal’s new series, The Power of Inclusion. This initiative aims to create a City that is inclusive and open to everyone regardless of background. From 2022-2024 their focus will be social mobility. This programme will enable businesses to gain expert insights from others, share best practice […]

The importance of culture and leadership – in conversation with I. Stephanie Boyce, President of the Law Society

The importance of culture and leadership to within an organisation to support social mobility cannot be underestimated. In conversation with I. Stephanie Boyce, President of the Law Society of England and Wales, we’ll be discussing how organisations can develop a culture that fosters inclusion and the role colleagues at all levels play.

UN Global Compact Network UK’s ‘Social Mobility: Improving recruitment and boosting inclusion’ webinar

Guests on the second session of the ‘Social Mobility: Improving Business and Society’ webinar series, organised by the UN Global Compact Network UK, will explore how companies can establish clear social mobility strategies in the recruitment stage – including understanding the criteria and the different hiring models that leading companies use to hire their personnel to improve social mobility.

Launch of the Social Mobility Commission’s Employer Consultation and Employer Advisory Group

During October 2022, the Social Mobility Commission (SMC) will be running our first ever Employer Consultation. We aim to understand what activities and interventions employers are finding most effective in improving social mobility within their organisations and communities. 

We will use the information provided to publish a “What Works” Report later this year, working closely with a newly established SMC Employer Advisory Group. This group will meet quarterly, and comprise 10-12 members across different sectors who have responded to the Consultation. 

Social Mobility Employers Masterclass: Data – what, why and how?

Masterclass: Data – what, why and how? Event date: Tuesday 28 June 2022 11:00 – 12:00 1 hour webinar In the June edition of our employers masterclass series, we will be exploring Data. No matter where you are as an organisation on your journey to build inclusion in your workforce, data is key for you […]

Bucking the trend: a fresh approach to social mobility

Hosted by Policy Exchange Bucking the trend: a fresh approach to social mobility Join us for Katharine Birbalsingh’s inaugural speech as Chair of the Social Mobility Commission. Katharine, the pioneering Headteacher of Michaela Community School, will set out the priorities of the Commission under her leadership. Drawing on her frontline experience, Katharine will outline her inspirational […]

Social Mobility Employers Masterclass: Apprenticeships

Don’t miss: Employers social mobility masterclass: Apprenticeships – Tuesday, 31 May (11am-12pm) Our next masterclass will explore the role of apprenticeships and how they can drive social mobility.  Employers and training providers rely on apprenticeship schemes to provide new opportunities, upskill people from inside and outside their organisation and contribute to a more innovative, inclusive […]

Social mobility employers masterclass: How to talk about class in the workplace

How do you talk openly about class in the workplace? In all likelihood, there’s an important conversation about the importance of diversity and inclusion going on at every level in your workforce and across your industry, too. But with many workplaces openly discussing the experiences of different groups in the modern workforce, there’s a strong […]

Employers social mobility masterclass: progression

How does someone successfully climb the career ladder in your workplace?  If you’re a junior employee struggling to progress to the next level or your career seems to be moving slower than those around you, the barriers to career progression – particularly for employees in low pay or from a low socioeconomic background – can […]

Apprenticeships – do they work and could they be for you?

Apprenticeships – do they work and could they be for you? Please note: this is an external event run by the Free School Meals Club.  Join the Free School Meals Club on 10 March 2022 at 12pm for an online panel discussion looking at apprenticeships from the perspective of employers and candidates. Paul Noble of […]

Time for Change: Using apprenticeships to drive social mobility, diversity and inclusion

Social Mobility Commission are pleased to support this external event. Time for Change: Using apprenticeships to drive social mobility, diversity and inclusion More than any other early career route, apprenticeships offer real opportunity to drive social mobility, diversity, and inclusion in an organisation. This NAW2022, Amazing Apprenticeships are proud to invite you to a very […]

Socio-economic background data collection Q&A: Hosted by the Socio-economic diversity taskforce 

Please note: this is an external event run by the City of London Corporation on behalf of the Socio-economic Diversity Taskforce.  The Socio-Economic Diversity Taskforce has teamed up with the Social Mobility Commission to provide a data collection Q&A session, where we will answer frequent questions that employers (on the taskforce and beyond) have about data collection.   This […]

Social mobility: steps for boosting opportunity in the workplace

Please note: this is an external event run by the Social Mobility Foundation. A person’s socio-economic background should never determine their career success. But for many in the UK, it does. Three-quarters (74%) of people believe there’s a large opportunity gap in the UK, according to research from the Social Mobility Commission, with only a […]

Employers’ masterclass: Social Mobility and outreach

Our October masterclass will cover how employers can use Outreach to reach and attract a wide pool of talent. Engaging with candidates from a low socio-economic background through outreach enables you to: raise awareness of your organisation and industry to a wider reach of prospective employees. build a pipeline of diverse talent that reflect the […]

Apprenticeships and social mobility: a practice-oriented virtual lunch conversation between practitioners

Apprenticeships are one of the most powerful tools to enable social mobility and develop a talented workforce that can meet the challenges of the future.  But apprenticeships in England are not fulfilling this promise – apprentices from working class backgrounds face barriers at every stage, while organisations are missing out on talented people. The pandemic […]

Driving social mobility change in the profession: social mobility data – what to ask, how to get good return rates, and how to analyse

Please note: this is an external event run by the Law Society. The Law Society is committed to increasing diversity at all levels within the profession. The diversity profile of the profession is changing. Women make up 52% of those admitted. Ethnic minority solicitors comprise 18% of the profession. LGBT+ and disabled solicitors account for […]

Be inspired to make the change – Socio-economic inclusion in the Creative Industries

Attracting and retaining a wide and diverse talent pool is a must for any forward-thinking team.  Yet those from privileged backgrounds are more than twice as likely as those from working class backgrounds to land a job in a creative occupation, dominating key creative roles in the sector.   What goes on in the creative sector […]

Employers Masterclass: Social mobility, hiring and recruitment

Our latest masterclass puts the focus on hiring and recruitment – exploring the common practices that can create artificial and unnecessary barriers to potential applicants from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Join the session to understand the simple steps that you can take to promote diversity at each stage of the recruitment process. From writing clear job […]

Launch Event: State of the Nation 2021: Social Mobility and the Pandemic

The Social Mobility Commission invites you to join us on Thursday 22nd July for the launch event of our report: ‘State of the nation 2021: Social mobility and the pandemic’ – charting the evolving social mobility landscape across the United Kingdom.

Employers’ masterclass: Social Mobility, Culture and Leadership

Our latest masterclass puts culture and leadership under the spotlight to explore how employers can forge a compelling, shared vision of the importance of social mobility in any organisation.

Social Mobility Employers Masterclass Series: Progression

Social mobility isn’t just about who gets in, it’s also about who gets on. Learn about how you can support employees throughout their careers, by offering equal access to opportunities and removing any artificial barriers to progression.

Social Mobility Employers Masterclass Series: Data

Data is at the heart of every forward-thinking diversity & inclusion (D&I) strategy. In order to take the right action at the right time, you first have to understand where you are at, as a business. It not only guides the hiring process, but enables you to monitor access to opportunities as people progress through the ranks.

Social Mobility Employers Masterclass 2021 Series: Outreach

Outreach is about attracting candidates who may not traditionally apply for roles within your organisation, yet may be able to make a significant contribution in future. These could be the ‘bright stars’ of tomorrow, but may not hold traditional academic qualifications or come from a deprived area.

How to drive social mobility through apprenticeships

To mark National Apprenticeship Week 2021, we are hosting a workshop during which you will be able to gain unique insights from the latest data and learn how you can maximise your current initiatives.

Interactive launch of our new Financial & Professional Services Toolkit

We will be hosting a presentation and roundtable, in partnership with a number of organisations across the sector, where you will be able gain exclusive insights into this valuable new resource for employers.

Social Mobility Employers Masterclass Series: Data

In the last of our masterclass series, we will be exploring Data with the Bridge Group. This session follows the launch of our new guidance, which makes measuring socio-economic diversity in the workplace easier than ever – we will also be providing you with insights from that work.

Social Mobility Employers Masterclass Series: Progression

Social mobility isn’t just about who gets in, it’s also about who gets on. So have a defined list of skills required for each promotion – and build flexibility into job specifications. This helps ensure that the very best person is able to step up and no one is accidentally overlooked.

Social Mobility Employers Masterclass Series: Advocacy

Our fourth session in this series, Advocacy, with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) is about changing perceptions and striving for change beyond your organisation. Advocating for change will not just do good, it will increase your visibility as a business and has the potential to shape your reputation.

Social Mobility Employers Masterclass Series: Leadership & Culture

Our third session in this series, Leadership & Culture, is all about building the foundations of a truly diverse and talented workforce. Inclusive teams make better business decisions 87% of the time – and twice as fast, delivering 60% better results; so it makes sense for employers to nurture this talent.

Social Mobility Employers Masterclass Series: Hiring

The second session in this series, Hiring, is all about reaching talent – attracting individuals from less advantaged backgrounds who may not traditionally apply for roles within your organisation, yet may be able to make a significant contribution in future.

Social Mobility Employers Masterclass Series: Outreach

The first in this series, Outreach, is all about reaching that talent – attracting individuals from less privileged backgrounds who may not traditionally apply for roles within your organisation, yet may be able to make a significant contribution in future. It is aimed at employers in any industry, predominantly decision makers – Head of HR, Head of D&I.

UK Social Mobility Awards – entries close on 26 June

There is only one month left to submit entries to the UK Social Mobility Awards (SOMOs). The SOMOs celebrate the achievements of businesses and organisations across the country in their work of advancing social mobility. You have until 26 June to enter, with the awards gala being held in London on 8 October.

Making the most out of apprenticeships webinar

This session is an opportunity for you, as an employer, to learn how to use apprenticeships to improve your socio-economic diversity and inclusion strategy. You will be able to gain unique insights from the latest data and learn how you can maximise your programme. We will look at apprenticeships’ social mobility potential, the immediate impacts of COVID-19 on training, and the practical steps you can take as an employer to help improve your offer.

Webinar for employers – develop talent through apprenticeships

In this webinar, we consider some of the key benefits for employers – 92% of companies who run an apprenticeship scheme believe it leads to a more motivated and satisfied workforce, while 80% report higher retention rates.

2020 Youth Voice Census Report launches on 23 June

Youth Employment UK will be hosting an online event on 23 June to mark the launch for their 2020 Youth Voice Census Report. This is an opportunity for you to hear from key members of their team and young people as they discuss the key findings.

Assessing apprenticeships on their social mobility potential

Lindsay Turner Trammell, Head of Policy and Innovation at the Social Mobility Commission (SMC) will be one of the keynote speakers during a morning-long conference held by the Westminster Employment Forum on 20 May.

Join us to drive sustainable change in social mobility

You are cordially invited to show your commitment to social mobility by attending our upcoming interactive event in your region. This is an unmissable event designed to introduce you to our new employer’s toolkit.