Read: Policy think tank urges socioeconomic tracking for a fairer future
Mandatory socioeconomic tracking and legislation on socioeconomic discrimination are key to making genuine progress on social mobility and ensuring that career opportunities are accessible to everyone.
A new policy paper launched today by the Centre for Progressive Purpose, part of the Purpose Coalition, calls for a Breaking Down Barriers Declaration to be adopted by policymakers, including any new incoming government, to bring purpose and intent to prioritising access to equal career opportunities. It would centralise the work that many leading businesses and key education institutions are already undertaking to provide stronger pathways to successful careers through outreach, work experience and training, particularly for disadvantaged and underrepresented groups. At the moment, too many people encounter barriers at every life stage that prevent them from accessing good quality, rewarding careers. Not only do they face challenges getting in but also in getting on, with career progression limited compared to others from more privileged backgrounds.
The Declaration would encourage employers to set public commitments to increase representation at every level, supporting them but also holding them to account. It will be crucial for addressing the stark socioeconomic disparities evident across the country, transforming Britain’s opportunity offering. It will also be critical to economic growth, with estimates suggesting that improving opportunities could boost the UK economy by £52 billion.
The paper focuses on three important areas - employment, recruitment and progression - and makes three key recommendations to help drive a more effective opportunity offering:
Mandatory socioeconomic diversity tracking, through the application of four questions
Increase the legal protection of socioeconomic discrimination, including accent
Employers to commit to increase workforce representation of those from disadvantaged backgrounds at all levels
Engagement Director at the Purpose Coalition, former Leader of Newcastle Council and member of Sir Keir Starmer’s Shadow Cabinet, Nick Forbes CBE said: “Britain’s poor social mobility means that too many talented people are not able to access opportunity and don’t realise their potential as a result. Career pathways are significantly restricted for those who do not have the networks or connections to help them get on, or who face other barriers, including things like accent. Breaking those down and allowing talent to flourish will change their lives and their communities. But it is also part of a much wider economic imperative in which the country needs the right talent to match the skilled jobs that will boost productivity and growth.
“At the Purpose Coalition, working with leadership teams from businesses, universities, NHS Trusts and other third sector organisations, it is clear that many employers are already shifting the dial on opening up opportunity to everyone, regardless of background. They have seen how gender and ethnicity reporting has helped them to build more inclusive and diverse workforces that not only better reflect the communities they serve but are also more innovative and engaged. There is also compelling evidence that it makes good business sense. Measuring progress can be challenging but it is crucial to seeing where the gaps still remain.
“Some have now also begun to track socioeconomic diversity as part of their efforts on social impact and are already gaining a much clearer picture of how their recruitment, progression and retention practices affect the makeup of their organisation. That data is vital if we are to tackle inequality. With new research from the Social Mobility Foundation showing that a class pay gap costs those from working-class backgrounds over £6,000 a year, it is likely that these trailblazers will be ahead of the curve as the momentum for genuine equality of opportunity gathers pace and the economic case becomes ever more apparent. I hope that this paper will encourage employers – who have such an important part to play in driving greater social mobility – to shape the future of Britain in a fairer, more progressive way.”
Notes to Editors
The Centre for Progressive Purpose is part of the Purpose Coalition, Britain’s largest social mobility and equality of opportunity campaign. It covers 700 organisations which employ five million people and serves two million students. It develops innovative ideas on the role of business in shaping the future of Britain in a fairer, more progressive way. It is working towards solutions for growing Britain’s economy, protecting the planet, fixing the NHS, building safer communities, harnessing the power of science and technology and boosting equality of opportunity.
