News

May 25, 2023 | Social Mobility Commission

Secondment opportunity

The Social Mobility Commission is looking to appoint two secondees to join our dynamic secretariat on a 3-month secondment.  The Social Mobility Commission is an advisory arms-length body which is sponsored by the Cabinet Office. The Social Mobility Commission exists to create a United Kingdom where an individual’s future isn’t determined by the circumstances of […]

Blog

May 25, 2023 | Social Mobility Commission

Employer Blog: An award-winning outreach collaboration combatting socio-economic cultural bias in universities

Following on from last week’s Employer Masterclass: Outreach and Social Mobility, Enterprise shares with us how the award-winning outreach programme they have developed with a partner has impacted the lives of many young students at university.   Enterprise formed a partnership with TG Consulting, an educational and employability consultancy whose focus is on diversity and […]

BlogRecap

May 19, 2023 | Social Mobility Commission

Recap: Outreach and social mobility

Engaging with candidates from a low socio-economic background through outreach can be a really powerful way to raise awareness of your organisation and industry and reach a wider range of prospective employees.  Not only does it benefit students and young people, encouraging them to think about the range of career and training options available to […]

Blog

May 15, 2023 | Paula Kemp

Employer blog – Meeting the ambitions of employers and young people: from outreach to intake

In today’s blog, Oli de Botton, CEO of  The Careers & Enterprise Company shares with us how employers can engage with schools and colleges through Outreach, and the benefits of building long term relationships.     “As far back as 1888 Royal Commissioner Sir Philip Magnus was asking ‘what, if any relation, should exist between school […]

Blog

May 10, 2023 | Paula Kemp

Celebrating the National Day for Staff Networks

As we celebrate the National Day for Staff Networks, we asked our colleague Paula Kemp, Head of Employer engagement to tell us more about how staff networks can support the employee across their career as well as help the organisation build an inclusive workplace. 10 May 2023 is the world’s only nationwide day dedicated to […]

Employer Newsletter

May 9, 2023 | Paula Kemp

Employer Newsletter – 5 May 2023

If you want to receive regular updates from us, please complete this form here to join our mailing list. It was great to see so many of you joining us last week at our most recent masterclass on ‘Accents in the Workplace’. If you were unable to join us, don’t worry, you can catch up on demand […]

BlogRecap

May 4, 2023 | Social Mobility Commission

Recap: Accents in the Workplace

Your accent is not directly relevant to work outputs. Simple, right? Despite that, we often unthinkingly associate certain accents with certain stereotypes, with public perceptions of Received Pronunciation being largely positive as opposed to accents associated with industrial cities of England and ethnic minorities.  Accent bias can have many repercussions in the workplace, with the […]

Blog

May 2, 2023 | Paula Kemp

Employer blog: The powerful benefits of outreach through mentoring

In our SMC employer consultation at the end of 2022, we found that almost all employers who responded participated in outreach, using it to: raise awareness of their organisation and industry to a wider reach of prospective employees reach students at an early stage to encourage them to think about the range of career and […]

Blog

April 26, 2023 | Social Mobility Commission

Accent bias – what does that mean in practice?

In Speaking Up: Accents and social mobility, published last year by the Sutton Trust, researchers looked at accent bias throughout life, highlighting how experiences differed by socio-economic background. They found that ‘public attitudes to different accents have remained largely unchanged over time – with Received Pronunciation (RP – sometimes known as ‘Queen’s English’ or ‘BBC […]

Employer Newsletter

April 19, 2023 | Paula Kemp

Employer Newsletter – 14 April 2023

If you want to receive regular updates from us, please complete this form here to join our mailing list. It was great to welcome almost 200 people to our most recent masterclass, ‘The art of using storytelling to build inclusion’! Don’t worry if you didn’t manage to join us – you can find our recap and recording […]

BlogRecap

April 12, 2023 | Social Mobility Commission

Recap: The art of using storytelling to build inclusion

Storytelling is one of the most powerful forms of communication – grabbing our attention, creating empathy, and allowing opportunities for everyone to be open to new perspectives.   In our latest masterclass we explored how storytelling can help your organisation to have inclusive conversations about class and socio-economic background within the workplace.   We were joined by […]

Blog

March 29, 2023 | Paula Kemp

Storytelling to support social mobility

Storytelling is a powerful tool to support your organisation’s social mobility strategy. It can help colleagues to understand the challenges others have faced, helps leaders to understand how they can help and promotes an inclusive, trust-based culture. Ahead of our employers’ masterclass ‘The art of using storytelling to build inclusion’ we asked Shannon Miller, from […]

Employer Newsletter

March 10, 2023 | Paula Kemp

Employer newsletter – 9 March 2023

If you want to receive regular updates from us, please complete this form here to join our mailing list. We’ve previously shared with you a number of upcoming employer masterclasses, and we’re delighted to now update you on a further session on Outreach. Join us in the coming months to find out more about Storytelling, Accent Bias […]

BlogRecap

February 14, 2023 | Social Mobility Commission

Recap: Using Apprenticeships to improve social mobility and build skills for life

Apprenticeships offer numerous benefits to learners, including the opportunity to earn while you learn, which is especially important for disadvantaged apprentices. They can also help organisations of all sizes, in all industries, build diverse and talented workforces.  However, research shows that the majority of apprentices are not from lower socio-economic backgrounds. So what can employers […]

BlogRecap

January 24, 2023 | Social Mobility Commission

Recap: Using workforce data to understand and improve social mobility

As an employer, data is one of the most important tools you have for understanding and improving diversity in your workplace, including social mobility. However, many employers report that collecting socio-economic data remains their biggest challenge. In our latest masterclass we explored the importance of collecting relevant and high quality data, including practical advice such […]

Blog

January 17, 2023 | Social Mobility Commission

Employer blog: Using data to improve socio-economic inclusion

Data is one of the most important tools you have to understand and improve diversity in your workplace. Any forward-looking socio-economic diversity and inclusion strategy begins with data. Collecting the right data, and knowing what to do with it, will help to shape your plans at every stage. However, many employers report that collecting socio-economic […]

Employer Newsletter

January 12, 2023 | Paula Kemp

Employer newsletter – 12 January 2023

If you want to receive regular updates from us, please complete this form here to join our mailing list. We are delighted that Alun Francis OBE is to be the new Interim Chair of the Social Mobility Commission following Katharine Birbalsingh’s decision to step down as Chair. Alun was previously Deputy Chair of the SMC and we look […]

Employer Newsletter

December 13, 2022 | Paula Kemp

Employer newsletter – 12 December 2022

If you want to receive regular updates from us, please complete this form here to join our mailing list. There’s been lots going on in the social mobility world recently, from the recent launch of our new Employer Advisory Group to last week’s release of the 2022 Social Mobility Employer Index. We’re busy planning our 2023 employer […]

Blog

December 5, 2022 | Social Mobility Commission

Recap: T Levels: What, why, where and how?

T Levels are a new alternative to A levels and other further education courses in England. Equivalent to 3 A levels, a T Level focuses on vocational skills and can help students into employment, higher education or apprenticeships. Each T Level includes an in-depth industry placement that lasts at least 45 days, so students spend […]

News

November 29, 2022 | Social Mobility Commission

Announcing our new Employer Advisory Group

*Updated 21 February 2023* The Social Mobility Commission has today announced the membership of its new Employer Advisory Group (EAG).  The Employer Advisory Group has been put in place to drive social mobility in the workplace in the UK and support the Commission’s employer focused programme of work.  The role of the EAG will be […]

Blog

November 14, 2022 | Social Mobility Commission

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

We recently launched our new ‘Building Blocks Toolkit’, which provides simple, first-step guidance to help businesses and organisations of all sizes, up and down the country, access a wealth of untapped talent and kickstart their socio-economic diversity strategy.  On 9th November we were delighted to be joined by Ann Francke OBE, Chief Executive of the […]

Employer Newsletter

November 10, 2022 | Social Mobility Commission

Employer newsletter – 8 November 2022

Hello, It’s your last chance to register for our event tomorrow – ‘In conversation with Ann Francke OBE: The building blocks of social mobility in the workplace.’ We’re really looking forward to hearing Ann’s insights into the role of senior leaders and managers in boosting inclusion and widening opportunities, and we hope to see you […]

Blog

November 8, 2022 | Social Mobility Commission

Lifelong Learning – how can we support adults to learn?

Lifelong Learning Week (7th-11th November) is a celebration of the power of learning to transform people’s lives. Coordinated by Festival of Learning, it is a week of activity which aims to celebrate the benefits of lifelong learning and inspire more adults to learn. As part of our celebration of Lifelong Learning Week, Alun Francis, Deputy […]

Blog

November 1, 2022 | Social Mobility Commission

Employer blog: Increasing social mobility through management and leadership culture

Socio-economic inclusion is not solely the domain of big corporate businesses with large HR departments. It’s about helping businesses and organisations of all sizes, up and down the country, to access a wealth of untapped talent. Don’t worry if you are only just getting started with this agenda – even the most inclusive employers need to […]

Blog

October 31, 2022 | Social Mobility Commission

Recap: Mentoring as a tool to support social mobility

To celebrate National Mentoring Day (27th October), we brought together an engaging panel to explore the importance of mentoring in supporting workplace progression and social mobility, and discuss their advice for setting up and participating in a mentoring programme.   If you missed it, you can watch the recording below, and read on for our top […]

Blog

October 24, 2022 | Social Mobility Commission

Employer blog: Taking small steps with mentoring

October 27th marks the ninth National Mentoring Day, an opportunity to raise awareness of the benefits of mentoring and encourage more people to get involved!  We know that mentoring can play a key role in supporting workplace progression, and we’re delighted to be running a masterclass on October 27th, exploring ‘Mentoring as a tool to […]

Blog

October 14, 2022 | Social Mobility Commission

Employer blog: National T-Levels Week

The first ever National T Levels Week is running from 10th-14th October, celebrating T Levels and the benefits they bring to both young people and businesses. 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 students […]

Employer Newsletter

October 13, 2022 | Paula Kemp

Employer newsletter – 12 October 2022

If you want to receive regular updates from us, please complete this form here to join our mailing list. Hello,  This week’s newsletter is packed full of masterclasses! The recap and recording of our recent conversation with I. Stephanie Boyce is now available for those who missed it, and registration is now open for our November masterclass […]

Blog

October 12, 2022 | Social Mobility Commission

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

An organisation’s culture – the behaviours, values and practices that shape the everyday experiences of its staff – is key to a truly diverse and inclusive workforce. Simply employing people from a variety of backgrounds does not guarantee an inclusive culture, but what steps can you take to ensure that everyone feels valued and supported […]

EventsNews

Employer Consultation

Thanks to everyone who attended the launch of our new Employer Consultation. It was great to see so many of you there, and we look forward to receiving your responses!  The consultation is now live, and will be open until 24th October 2022. We want to understand what activities and interventions employers are finding most […]

Employer Newsletter

September 21, 2022 | Paula Kemp

Employer newsletter – 21 September 2022

If you want to receive regular updates from us, please complete this form here to join our mailing list. Hello, We have a very busy calendar coming up, and we hope you’ll be able to join us at one of the following events! There’s still time to sign up for the launch of our Employer […]

Employer Newsletter

September 1, 2022 | Paula Kemp

Employer newsletter – 01 September 2022

We’re preparing for a lot of exciting events in the coming months, including the launch of our brand new Building Blocks Toolkit, which will help organisations of all sizes to kickstart their socio-economic diversity strategy.  We’re also launching our new Employer Consultation, and we want you to get involved. Find out more about how you […]

Blog

July 15, 2022 | Paula Kemp

State of the Nation 2022 report – key insights

Our recently published State of the Nation 2022 report contains key insights on the state of social mobility right now in the UK. Using an innovative set of metrics, we were able to establish a new framework, the Social Mobility Index, to measure how socially mobile people are across the UK now, and in decades […]

Blog

June 30, 2022 | Paula Kemp

Recap- Employers Masterclass: Data – what, why and how?

Why start collecting socio-economic background data on your employees? What specific data should you collect? What does it show you?  How do you get started and how can you improve your response rates? In our latest Employers Masterclass, we discussed the importance of collecting socio-economic background (SEB) data and how it is key to understanding […]

News

June 23, 2022 | Paula Kemp

State of the Nation 2022: A fresh approach to social mobility

Message from our Chair, Katharine Birbalsingh CBE and Deputy Chair, Alun Francis OBE: It is a great privilege for us to be writing this, as the new Chair and Deputy Chair of the Social Mobility Commission, on the day we publish our annual report on social mobility in the UK:  State of the Nation 2022: […]

Blog

June 17, 2022 | Paula Kemp

Alun Francis – what social mobility means to me

  Organised by social mobility charity Making the Leap, the first Social Mobility Awareness Day takes place on 16 June 2022.  The idea is to promote wider conversations about social mobility and to celebrate the organisations committed to bringing about positive change. Alun Francis, Deputy Chair of the Social Mobility Commission (SMC) and Principal and […]

Blog

June 17, 2022 | Paula Kemp

Employer blog: Darrell Sharpe, Aviva Investors

In celebration of Social Mobility Awareness Day, which took place on 16 June 2022, we are sharing stories from some of the organisations that are committed to bringing about positive change.   Our third blog comes from Darrell Sharpe, Junior Sovereign Analyst in the Emerging Market Debt, Aviva Investors telling his story of how accessing further […]

News

June 16, 2022 | Rachael Cochrane

Social Mobility Awareness Day: Findings from 2021 British Social Attitudes Survey

This week, the first Social Mobility Awareness Day takes place, designed to promote wider conversations about social mobility.   In light of this, Rosa Alonso, Senior Researcher at the Social Mobility Commission has been reviewing data from the 2021 British Social Attitudes Survey (BSAS).  Running for nearly 40 years, the survey is an important barometer of […]

Blog

June 16, 2022 | Paula Kemp

Employer blog: Maisha Rashid, Purchase Ledger Administrator, Jupiter Asset Management

In celebration of Social Mobility Awareness Day, which takes place on 16 June 2022, we are sharing stories from some of the organisations that are committed to bringing about positive change. Our second blog comes from Maisha Rashid, Purchase Ledger Administrator, Jupiter Asset Management telling her story of how undertaking an apprenticeship was the right […]

Blog

June 15, 2022 | Paula Kemp

Employer blog: Lennon Ball at Phoenix Group

In celebration of Social Mobility Awareness Day, which takes place on 16 June 2022, we are sharing stories from some of the organisations that are committed to bringing about positive change.   Our first blog comes from Lennon Ball, telling his story of how being employed at Phoenix through the recent Kickstart Scheme (a government-funded scheme […]