Employer Newsletter

June 26, 2023 | Paula Kemp

Employer newsletter – 26 June

If you want to receive regular updates from us, please complete this form here to join our mailing list. Two weeks ago we previewed our new Data Explorer Tool, coming in September, and it was great to see so many of you at our demonstration events, either online or in Manchester!  While we’re working hard to get […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Blog

February 15, 2021 | SMC Admin

Apprenticeships, a game-changer for social mobility

To mark National Apprenticeship Week 2021, we held a special event on 10 February exploring how apprenticeships can drive social mobility. In this session we looked at the positive impact they can have on your workforce, but also delved into some of the key challenges faced by employers in reaching a diverse pipeline of talent. […]

Blog

December 15, 2020 | SMC Admin

Social mobility masterclass for employers #6: Data

Data – the foundation of any diversity & inclusion strategy, with the Bridge Group In the last of our masterclass series on 3 December, we explored Data with the Bridge Group. This session followed the launch of our new guidance, which makes measuring socio-economic diversity in the workplace easier than ever – and we also […]

Blog

December 10, 2020 | SMC Admin

Explore our new resource for financial & professional services

We’re proud to announce the launch of our very first sector-specific toolkit – financial & professional services. Following months of consultation with trade groups, academics and leading employers in law, accountancy, management consultancies and financial services – this new toolkit provides unique insights into how best to level the playing field, whilst driving competitive advantage. […]

Blog

November 26, 2020 | SMC Admin

Social mobility masterclass for employers #5: Progression

Progression – opportunities to advance, with the Ministry of Justice The fifth session in our employers’ masterclass series, Progression, took place on 19 November. Our previous sessions covered outreach, hiring, culture & leadership and advocacy. Progression with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is all about how you can support employees throughout their careers, by offering equal access […]

Blog

November 24, 2020 | SMC Admin

Explore our new guidance on data – launched today

Today marks the launch of new guidance, making measuring socio-economic data easier than ever for employers. 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. This guidance will […]

Blog

November 16, 2020 | SMC Admin

Our new reports highlight training as the key route out of low pay

Two new studies from the Social Mobility Commission highlight the importance of in-work training to progress workers out of low pay and improve social mobility. Together, these two reports show how policy makers and employers can work together to get the most out of workplace training – benefiting individual workers, business and society at large. […]

Blog

October 27, 2020 | SMC Admin

Social mobility masterclass for employers #4: Advocacy

Advocacy – becoming an advocate for change, with PWC The fourth session in our employers’ masterclass series, Advocacy, took place on 15 October. Our previous sessions covered outreach, hiring and culture & leadership. Advocacy with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) is about changing perceptions and striving for change beyond your organisation.  Once you have pin-pointed the commercial, as well […]

Blog

October 7, 2020 | SMC Admin

Social mobility masterclass for employers #3: Culture and leadership

Culture and Leadership – with Grant Thornton The third session in our employers’ masterclass series, Culture and Leadership, took place on 16 September. Inclusive teams make better business decisions 87% of the time – and twice as fast, delivering 60% better results; it makes sense for employers to nurture this talent. A diverse workforce is […]

Blog

October 5, 2020 | SMC Admin

Social mobility masterclass for employers #2: Hiring

Hiring the best talent, with Accenture The second session in our employers’ masterclass series, which took place on 25 August, was Hiring. Our first session, Outreach, was geared towards reaching talent – attracting individuals from less privileged backgrounds who may not traditionally apply for roles within your organisation, yet may be able to make a […]

Blog

October 1, 2020 | SMC Admin

New videos – top tips and inspiration for employers

Watch our videos to find out what socio-economic diversity can bring to your business and discover our top tips from the employers’ toolkit. As an employer, nothing is more important than the quality of your staff. Who you hire, how you hire and getting the best out of your people are the root of competitive […]

Blog

September 18, 2020 | SMC Admin

Social mobility masterclass for employers #4: Advocacy

Advocacy – becoming an advocate for change, with PWC Thursday 15 October 2020, 2pm Our fourth session in this masterclass series, Advocacy, with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) is about changing perceptions and striving for change beyond your organisation. Once you have pin-pointed the commercial, as well as the moral, arguments for increasing socio-economic diversity, it then becomes […]

Blog

September 10, 2020 | SMC Admin

Social mobility masterclass for employers #3: Leadership & Culture

Leadership and Culture – building a diverse workforce, with Grant Thornton Wednesday 16 September 2020, 3pm Our third session in this series, Leadership & Culture, with Grant Thornton, 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 […]

Blog

August 18, 2020 | SMC Admin

Social mobility masterclass for employers #2: Hiring

Hiring the best talent, with Accenture Tuesday 25 August 2020, 3pm The second session in our employers’ masterclass series is Hiring, which is all about reaching 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. […]

Blog

August 5, 2020 | SMC Admin

The early years workforce: underpaid, overworked and undervalued

Our new report – The stability of the early years workforce in England – shows that the 280,000 people who look after and educate our children are at risk of becoming our forgotten key workers. The first five years of a child’s life are critical to their future development – this is also the time when […]

Blog

August 3, 2020 | SMC Admin

Young peoples’ prospects impacted by Covid and new Employer Guidance from Sutton Trust

The pandemic has already had a considerable impact on the economy, with job vacancies down, redundancies announced and more job losses likely in future. Young people entering the job market this year are likely to be particularly badly hit by the current economic crisis.   Last week, new research from the Sutton Trust found that: […]

Blog

July 31, 2020 | SMC Admin

Social mobility masterclass for employers #1: Outreach

How to reach the best talent, with Santander On 23 July, we held the first in our new social mobility masterclass series for employers – Outreach, exploring how you can reach, attract and foster a diverse pool of talent. Below you can find a recording of the webinar, including an in-depth case-study from Santander delving […]

BlogNews

July 23, 2020 | SMC Admin

Do you still need to leave home for a better life? SMC publishes new report

Our new report – Moving out to move on: Understanding the link between migration and disadvantage – investigates the relationship between migration within Great Britain and social mobility. The choices people make in terms of moving regions are crucial as they have a direct impact on job prospects and earnings. ‘The report reveals stark geographical […]

News

July 21, 2020 | SMC Admin

ELLE and Social Mobility Commission launch initiative to find the next generation of creative talent

ELLE UK today launched a joint initiative with the Social Mobility Commission to find the next generation of creative talent in the UK. “Everyone deserves a door to be opened for them” said our Commissioner and Editor-in-Chief of Elle UK, Farrah Storr, talking about the initiative which has given students aged 16 to 19 unparalleled access […]

News

July 8, 2020 | SMC Admin

SMC response to the Chancellor’s multi-billion pound “plan for jobs”

The Joint Deputy Chairs of the Social Mobility Commission, Steven Cooper and Sandra Wallace, have put out a joint statement in which they said the SMC welcomes the Chancellor’s multi-billion pound “plan for jobs” announced earlier today – in particular the targeted approach to supporting young people: “The current recession will hurt disadvantaged younger people […]

Events

Webinar for employers – develop talent through apprenticeships

Last week we held a webinar and workshop for employers – Be bold: Develop talent through apprenticeships, drive social mobility – exploring the positive impact more diverse apprentices can have on an organisation and what you, as an employer, can do to create paths of opportunity. In this webinar, we consider some of the key […]

Blog

June 26, 2020 | SMC Admin

How to get the most out of apprenticeships – guide for employers

Apprenticeships are not only a useful way for individuals from less advantaged backgrounds to show their true potential, they are also a golden opportunity for you, as an employer, to nurture talent that is tailored to the needs of your business. Research shows that 43% of businesses with more a diverse workforce have higher profits […]

Blog

June 25, 2020 | SMC Admin

Apprenticeships – why hiring diverse talent is smart business

Apprenticeships are one of the most powerful and effective means of boosting social mobility amongst workers from less advantaged backgrounds – not only that, it’s smart business.​   Whether you lead a manufacturing business, a professional services firm or a creative platform, attracting and retaining a diverse talent pool is a must for any forward-thinking […]

News

June 24, 2020 | SMC Admin

SMC publishes major report on apprenticeships

  Apprenticeships are one of the most powerful and effective means of boosting social mobility amongst workers from less advantaged backgrounds – if they can get into the system.​   Between 2015/16 and 2017/18, the number of apprenticeship starters from disadvantaged backgrounds fell by 36%. The impact was even greater for older (aged 25+) and female […]

News

June 10, 2020 | SMC Admin

Monitoring social mobility since 2013 – major report published

‘Half of adults from low socio-economic backgrounds have received no training since leaving school’ Apprenticeships and adult education are often considered a ladder of social mobility. They enable people to gain skills that make them more employable. They also upskill and reskill workers who are already employed, opening up future opportunities. Yet, according to a […]

Events

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. Don’t miss […]

Events

Making the most out of apprenticeships – webinar on 25 June

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 […]

Blog

May 20, 2020 | SMC Admin

The impact of COVID-19 on social mobility, what employers can do – webinar and panel discussion

COVID-19 is impacting those from lower socio-economic backgrounds more than most. If organisations stop supporting them, the current gap will continue to widen. On Thursday 23 April and Thursday 7 May, we held a webinar to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on social mobility. It was encouraging to see so many employers attend, across industry. […]