Bridge Group

Do you share the Bridge Group's vision of a higher education system and labour market where outcomes are determined by competence and hard work, and not by socio-economic background? We are seeking to appoint a Researcher (Quantitative analysis) to contribute to the design and delivery of our research, with a particular focus on preparing and analysing quantitative data. Find out more and apply: https://lnkd.in/dMe9zX7c #recruitment #opportunity #job #vacancy

On #InternationalDayOfEducation we want to introduce ourselves as a non-profit consultancy that uses research to promote social equality. The Bridge Group’s vision is of a fairer higher education system and labour market where outcomes are determined by competence and hard work, and not by socio-economic background. Social inequality has a clear-cut impact on educational and employment outcomes. Find out more about educational inequality: https://lnkd.in/ecJBwb9k #SocialEquality #SocialMobility #research

🚨NEW: The gap in access to internships between working-class and middle-class graduates has almost doubled since 2018. Our new research reveals a growing gap in access to increasingly important internship routes, with 55% of recent graduates from middle-class backgrounds completing an internship, compared to 36% of working-class graduates. This research builds on our previous work on graduate internships and comes as the Government is expected to announce tighter controls on employers offering unpaid or underpaid internships. Today’s report shows that the proportion of graduates who have undertaken an internship has increased by 12 percentage points since 2018, from 39% to 51%. A quarter (27%) have done multiple internships, with 10% doing three or more. On pay, three fifths (61%) of internships undertaken by recent grads were unpaid or underpaid. Most of these internships are likely illegal under existing regulations, but the system relies on interns themselves reporting non-paying employers 👎 Among those who did unpaid internships, 40% relied on the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ to fund their role (up from 26% in 2018), with 39% living with family or friends for free, and 29% using their own savings 💰 We also found that there is growing importance placed on internships as a route into professional careers. 59% of employers say they now offer internships (up from 48% in 2018) and 31% of grads say they secured their current job due to their internship. Almost half (47%) of employers say they offer internships paid at least at the minimum wage. The proportion offering internships paid below the minimum wage has increased to 17%, from 11% in 2018, and 9% say they offer internships without any compensation. Most employers do want to see change. 38% would like to see unpaid internships banned, while 30% want better enforcement of current minimum wage legislation. Three quarters of those who offer internships say a ban wouldn’t impact the opportunities they provide. Read the full report to learn about the graduate internship market ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/dQAMX8se

It is #NationalMentoringMonth, and the Bridge Group understands that #mentoring is a highly effective way of breaking down barriers and creating equal opportunities for everyone, including those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Mentors offer support and guidance, and the potential to change somebody’s life. We recommend that employers ensure that formal, transparent mentoring programmes are in place so all employees have equal access.  #Mentorship #SocialMobility #DEI Photo by Christina Morillo, Pexels

📣 Come and join us for the next free webinar from Ocean and Coastal Futures (OCF) where we will be exploring how class impacts opportunities in the marine and coastal sector. Join this webinar to hear about: ▪️ Why social mobility is important; ▪️ How socio-economic background can affect progression; ▪️ What can be done to improve social equity. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eeTg6PP3 Hear from our brilliant panel and ask them your questions: 🟠 Emily G Cunningham MBE - Marine biologist and award-winning ocean conservationist 🟠 Alex Gill - Member, Young Sea Changers Scotland 🟠 Dr Rose O'Neill - Chief Executive, Campaign for National Parks 🟠 Penelope Griffin - Director, Bridge Group ▪️ Catch up on what was discussed in our introductory webinar here: https://lnkd.in/evkZ5VW3 ▪️ Read our report on ethnic diversity here: https://lnkd.in/ee7EuM2w #diversity #oceanjustice #socialmobility #marineconservation #marinescience

A Bridge Group study, commissioned by the UPP Foundation, uncovered how and why, for many graduates, staying on in the local region matters more than a higher salary. Graduates who stayed in the region of their university after graduating were as likely as graduates who moved away to report that they were in paid employment and that their current activity was on track with their future plans. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/g8g2n8qk  #graduates #university #research

My (unpublished) Letter to the Editor of The Times... 💬 Sir, If employers are “exploiting lax rules to send senior executives on courses” ('Apprenticeship funding is used for management training', 9 January), may I suggest that this specific issue is addressed directly rather than throwing the baby (well, 18 year old) out with the bath water? Leading London law firms commissioned the Bridge Group – an independent, non-profit consultancy – to carry out research on Level 7 apprentices working at the 50+ firms that form part of the ‘City Century’ collaboration. Their report shows that 98% of solicitor apprentices – across all six years of the apprenticeship – are aged between 18 and 24. It shows that current cohorts are more diverse than the solicitor population as a whole in terms of both socio-economic and ethnic background. It shows that the apprentices are thriving and happy. I understand Government concerns about the apprenticeship levy being used to "fund one in six apprenticeships for workers who already have a university degree". But what about the hundreds of SCHOOL LEAVERS now being offered a Level 7 six-year apprenticeship by law firms, thereby taking high-achieving young people from low socio-economic backgrounds all the way from the start of their career to full qualification as a solicitor and beyond? These 18 year olds are not 'senior executives'. Although they might be one day, because law firms have every intention of progressing this proven talent all the way to partnership… Joanna Hughes Co-Lead for the City Century collaboration 💬 👉🏽 I am sure that our Government has the point, but regardless, please help me share the counter-view above, for the benefit of others, to the tired narrative published in The Times last week. (And please look out for my LinkedIn post on Tuesday morning announcing a pro bono initiative that I been working on for National Apprenticeship Week - a 'Celebration Friday' event specifically for *care-experienced Year 12 and Year 13 pupils* in Barking & Dagenham, Waltham Forest, Newham, Tower Hamlets and beyond, who are aspiring solicitors and who could greatly benefit from the solicitor apprenticeship route to qualification.) #SkillsForLife #SolicitorApprenticeships Department for Education Jacqui Smith Apprenticeships

The Bridge Group is pleased to be participating in this free online webinar on 5 Feb, organised by Ocean and Coastal Futures (OCF). It is about how socio-economic background impacts progression in the marine and coastal sector, and what can be done to improve things. Sign up below ⬇️

Happy New Year from the Bridge Group ✨ 2025 is going to be an exciting year for us: (1) Our recently expanded team will welcome a new CEO in the Spring (2) We will soon be recruiting again to further increase our research capacity (3) We will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of our founding as a charity 🎉 We can’t wait to work more with our friends, partners and clients; an increasing community of change-makers using research to promote #SocialEquality. Follow us and sign up to our newsletter so you don’t miss out: https://lnkd.in/dChdPVfb #2025 #HappyNewYear #SocialMobility

Season's greetings from the Bridge Group to all of our friends, partners and colleagues. Making a real and lasting impact on socio-economic #diversity and #SocialEquality is so much easier when we can all do it together 🙂 (Image by Tim Mossholder, Pexels)