The Ministry of Justice has over 70,000 staff in locations across the UK: high-quality data is key to understanding and improving socio-economic diversity in such a large and varied organisation. All staff are asked questions to establish their socio-economic background, aligned to those recommended in this toolkit.

Applicants are asked when they apply; existing staff are asked to update their internal HR profiles; and the questions are asked on the annual staff survey. Analysis of this data shows progress against three key targets: who gets in, who gets on, and how does it feel? The data informs interventions ranging from schools outreach activities and work experience opportunities in social-mobility coldspots, to mentoring for staff from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Data also measures effectiveness: two-thirds of students attending one of almost 600 school events would consider a career in MoJ; and one third of almost 400 staff entering into a mentoring relationship have since achieved promotion or level transfer. This combination of clear strategy underpinned by quality data has established the MoJ in the upper reaches of the Social Mobility Employers Index.