New project launched to break down barriers within accountancy
A new project has been launched to improve social mobility within the accountancy profession.
The Breaking Down Barriers to Accountancy project was launched by Chair of the Purpose Coalition and former Education Secretary Rt Hon Justine Greening, who is herself a trained accountant.
The project will bring together regional accountancy firms to look at how meaningful change can be achieved across the profession. Participating firms will take part in a series of workshops which will focus on outreach, access, recruitment and progression.
Justine Greening is herself a trained accountant.
At the culmination of these sessions, an action plan will be produced featuring analysis of the challenges faced by the accountancy sector, as well as case studies of best practice. It will also include a comprehensive set of recommendations for the sector and accountancy firms to boost social mobility and widen diversity and inclusion, all aligned with the four key themes.
The Breaking Down Barriers to Accountancy action plan will be launched at an event in Parliament in the first part of 2025 which will bring together accountancy firms, education institutions, wider stakeholders and policymakers.
Speaking at the launch of the project, Chair of the Purpose Coalition and former Education Secretary, Rt Hon Justine Greening, said:
“This is a sector that turbocharged my career and really opened doors to opportunities – crucial for someone like me from a working-class background. More than that, the skills I learnt were ones I used every single day as a Secretary of State. But I am also aware of some of the barriers that still exist in both getting into the profession and how to progress. It means the sector is still missing out on some amazing talent and that’s what we want to work together to address.
“Many accountancy firms are already doing great work to break down barriers to opportunity and as part of this project we will be celebrating this best practice, sharing it and, importantly, exploring how to apply it more widely. Taking the lead from a new Government, society now has a much higher expectation of how businesses should operate and how they can demonstrate their wider social impact. I am looking forward to getting started on this new project and working with our partner firms to develop a strategic and countrywide approach to embedding social mobility in the accountancy sector.”
Participating accountancy firms include Dains, James Cowper Kreston, Rouse Partners, Crowe UK, AAB, Saffery, Forvis Mazars, Albert Goodman, haysmacintyre, Gerald Edelman and Price Bailey.
For more information, or to enquire about joining the project, click the button below.
