‘Champion’ businesses recognised for efforts to eliminate barriers to social mobility
14 November 2014
Offering non-graduate entry routes to jobs and driving recruitment practices that eliminate barriers to social mobility is just one aspect in a strict set of criteria that 12 high-profile UK companies have committed to meet over the next year.
Fri, 14 Nov 2014
Offering non-graduate entry routes to jobs and driving recruitment practices that eliminate barriers to social mobility is just one aspect in a strict set of criteria that 12 high-profile UK companies have committed to meet over the next year.
The companies – Accenture, Aspire Group, Baker & McKenzie, The Co-operative Food, Deloitte, EY, Grant Thornton UK, KPMG, Linklaters, Mears Group, Standard Life and Telefónica O2 – were yesterday recognised by the government for leading the charge to ensure young people have a better chance of getting on the jobs ladder.
Speaking at the Skills Show in Birmingham, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg named the 12 businesses as Social Mobility Compact “champions”.
The Compact was set up by the minister in 2011 to encourage employers to offer young people fair and open access to employment opportunities. It aims to encourage behavioural change in organisations to ensure jobs are open to everyone.
Yesterday, Clegg said the champion businesses appreciated “the economic value of recruiting people from all walks of life”.
He continued: “Businesses know they need to find the best talent in order to succeed. This means searching beyond the usual recruitment methods and hiring young people with great potential, whatever their background. It’s great to see leaders in industry backing this approach.”
In a statement provided to Recruiter, Telefónica O2 head of leadership, talent and resourcing Michelle Adams said the company supports social mobility because it not only “contributed to the future health of the UK economy, but the diversity of our customer base needs to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work in our business”.
Adams’ statement added: “Whatever their different backgrounds may be, we know that young people have talent, drive and creativity. They deserve the opportunity to fulfil their potential and ambitions.”
The champion businesses will help drive a new benchmark for social mobility with a commitment to meet certain criteria that builds on their existing work.
The criteria, in addition to driving recruitment practices, includes developing relationships with schools and young people; targeting efforts on institutions with above average levels of disadvantage; and widening the geographical spread of opportunities.
Clegg yesterday said more companies needed to follow in the footsteps of the champions, “if we are to achieve our aim of a stronger economy and fairer society”.
Offering non-graduate entry routes to jobs and driving recruitment practices that eliminate barriers to social mobility is just one aspect in a strict set of criteria that 12 high-profile UK companies have committed to meet over the next year.
The companies – Accenture, Aspire Group, Baker & McKenzie, The Co-operative Food, Deloitte, EY, Grant Thornton UK, KPMG, Linklaters, Mears Group, Standard Life and Telefónica O2 – were yesterday recognised by the government for leading the charge to ensure young people have a better chance of getting on the jobs ladder.
Speaking at the Skills Show in Birmingham, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg named the 12 businesses as Social Mobility Compact “champions”.
The Compact was set up by the minister in 2011 to encourage employers to offer young people fair and open access to employment opportunities. It aims to encourage behavioural change in organisations to ensure jobs are open to everyone.
Yesterday, Clegg said the champion businesses appreciated “the economic value of recruiting people from all walks of life”.
He continued: “Businesses know they need to find the best talent in order to succeed. This means searching beyond the usual recruitment methods and hiring young people with great potential, whatever their background. It’s great to see leaders in industry backing this approach.”
In a statement provided to Recruiter, Telefónica O2 head of leadership, talent and resourcing Michelle Adams said the company supports social mobility because it not only “contributed to the future health of the UK economy, but the diversity of our customer base needs to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work in our business”.
Adams’ statement added: “Whatever their different backgrounds may be, we know that young people have talent, drive and creativity. They deserve the opportunity to fulfil their potential and ambitions.”
The champion businesses will help drive a new benchmark for social mobility with a commitment to meet certain criteria that builds on their existing work.
The criteria, in addition to driving recruitment practices, includes developing relationships with schools and young people; targeting efforts on institutions with above average levels of disadvantage; and widening the geographical spread of opportunities.
Clegg yesterday said more companies needed to follow in the footsteps of the champions, “if we are to achieve our aim of a stronger economy and fairer society”.
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