The Social Mobility Foundation

Congratulations to this year’s top 75 Social Mobility Index Employers. 🎆 It’s great to see all these employers taking action to ensure there is equity of who gets in, who gets on and who belongs in the workplace. 👏 Take a look at the Employer Index Report for examples of best practice and practical steps employers and policymakers can take to improve social mobility. Fancy becoming a top 75 employer in 2024? Read the report and find out how to enter here: https://lnkd.in/eDNunVQZ #SMFIndex23

Our education system isn’t working for young people from lower-income backgrounds. This new analysis by the Education Policy Institute has found that the attainment gap between pupils eligible for free school meals and their peers has widened. It’s now 19.2 months of learning by the end of secondary school - over a year and a half. Young people deserve a system that lets them thrive, regardless of background. It's fair, and helps the economy by making the most of everyone's potential. We can't afford to hold another generation of talent back. The government must close the attainment gap as a priority.

It's #WorldYouthSkillsDay 🤹♀️ Career skills and knowledge are often passed down through families and school networks that aren’t available to everyone. That’s why we’re here to provide bright young people with the skills they need to reach their dream university, career and future life 🚀 Your donations help us continue to change lives 👇 https://lnkd.in/eshn56Q2

Attention all medical professionals 📢 We need your specialist career insights to help guide our students through medical school 🏥 Take our survey to share your knowledge and give back. Navigating your through university isn’t easy without the support of someone who’s done it all before. Complete the survey by 16th July 👇 https://lnkd.in/e3REnDZq

This is HUGE! 👏 Co-op's decision to publish its socioeconomic pay gap for the first time is a brave decision, but the right one. The workplace is as important as the classroom for social mobility. And measuring an issue is the first step to fixing it. The report - featuring a foreword from our CEO Sarah Atkinson - makes the barriers facing those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds visible. We're calling on the government to make this the norm. Making all large employers collect and report socioeconomic data for their workforces would help give people of all backgrounds the opportunities they need to fulfil their potential.

It’s General Election Day and time to vote ✅ Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm today ⏳ Find your nearest polling station here ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eB7a4zj

The Canaries: How unfair inequality is poisoning Britain https://lnkd.in/eFVMPvKn

Young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds need more support - and this new analysis from Teach First shows why. ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eKXTDHNm “Five years after completing their GCSEs, 31% of the most disadvantaged pupils are not in sustained education or employment.” The next government must prioritise closing the attainment gap between students from low-income backgrounds and their peers.

The gates open at Glastonbury today - but the doors to a career in the UK music industry are often shut to people from working class backgrounds. New data from UK Music Ltd shows that just 20.9% of workers come from a working class background - far short of the 39% in the UK workforce as a whole. Change is needed - and we've got some suggestions… 1. Collect data The next government should make all large employers collect and report socioeconomic background data for their workforce. The first step to understanding and fixing an issue is to measure it. 2. End unpaid internships Unpaid internships are elitist. They lock young people out of vital career experience if they can't afford to work for free. They should also be open to everyone - not just friends and family. 3. Use context when recruiting Employers shouldn’t just look at someone's grades or experience - put this in the context of where they're from and where they went to school. 4. Join the Social Mobility Employer Index The Index gives bespoke advice on how to break down barriers for people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds - letting employers recruit and retain the best talent, not just the most polished performers. Register for 2025 here ⬇ https://lnkd.in/eDNunVQZ

Why should you vote in the General Election ❓ It’s our students who say it best 🌟