Social Mobility Commission

Our Chair Alun Francis joined Minister Alison McGovern at Cliffs Hotel, to learn about how they collaborate with the local Jobcentre team to recruit local young people into careers in the hospitality sector. They also heard directly from Brandon and Bayley, about how they had benefited from the placements partnership between Choice Hotels EMEA Group and Fylde Coast Jobcentres. Brandon is now thriving as a full time member of the hotel staff, and Bayley has joined the Head Chef's team. Long term jobs with solid career progression opportunities are ahead for both of them. Thank you to Beth, Sue, Sam, Ben, Lorraine, @ChrisWebbMP and all the team for such an insightful discussion. The Social Mobility Commission looks forward to working closely with Minister McGovern to extend opportunities in the hospitality sector #Skills #SocialMobility #LifeChancesForAll

Delighted to welcome this new initiative from Social Mobility Commission; all power to their elbow! #SocialMobility

"Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. That’s the stark reality we face, particularly in regions like Yorkshire, where the opportunity gap continues to hold people back." Yorkshire AI Labs LLP cofounder David Richards MBE on the new Economic Growth and Investment Group. The group aims to boost regional growth, entrepreneurship, and investment in areas of economic disadvantage outside of London and the south east. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4hQuoZs

The sky should be the limit for young people—but is it? For too many, where they are born still determines where they end up. Education, career progression, and economic mobility remain out of reach for many talented young people because of systemic barriers. The Social Mobility Commission (SMC) is an independent statutory body that exists to create a United Kingdom where circumstances of birth do not determine outcomes in life. SMC is responsible for the annual #StateOfTheNation report, promoting #SocialMobility in England, publishing research, and advising ministers on policies to improve social mobility. To ensure that AI and technology are harnessed as tools for social mobility, SMC is working with the EY Foundation and #SocialTechTrust to lay the groundwork for a #GrandChallenge. We can create solutions that drive meaningful change by combining policy expertise, real-world data, and cross-sector collaboration. A pillar of our work is SMC’s State of the Nation Report 2024, which provides a detailed picture of social mobility across the UK. It highlights: ✅ How location impacts opportunity, with regional disparities shaping young people’s life chances  ✅ The structural barriers that limit access to education, work, and career progression  ✅ Why policy, innovation, and technology must come together to create meaningful change If we want #AI to break barriers instead of reinforcing them, we need to start with a deep understanding of social mobility—and the data to track it. Let’s innovate to inspire the next generation! Read the report and join us in making AI & technology a force for social mobility. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/etCUi5MP #AIforOpportunity #StateOfTheNation2024 #TechForGood 

Craig Beaumont discusses the new Economic Growth and Investment Group. The group will meet regularly to draw up policy recommendations for the Government, with the aim of empowering communities to break down persistent barriers to growth Find out more: https://bit.ly/4gLOId6

Louise Quinney from Movement to Work welcomes the Economic Growth and Investment Group. She says "The launch of the SMC's Economic Growth and Investment Group is an essential step in ensuring that investment and high-quality employment opportunities reach all communities, particularly those that have historically faced barriers to growth." Find out more https://bit.ly/4gLOId6

For too many young people, the path to success is determined by their background, not potential. The EY Foundation has a decade of experience working alongside young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds — supporting them to develop skills, build networks, and access meaningful employment opportunities. Their work highlights a crucial reality: talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. That’s why EY Foundation, Social Mobility Commission, and #SocialTechTrust have partnered to explore AI’s opportunities for social mobility. We are bringing tech innovators, funders, and policymakers together to explore how technology can drive real change. A key resource shaping this work is EY Foundation’s latest #report, AI and Social Mobility: Unlocking Opportunities for Young People, which highlights: ✅ How AI can break systemic barriers in education and employment  ✅ The risks of AI reinforcing bias—and how to prevent it  ✅ Why young people must be at the centre of AI’s development As AI reshapes the future of work, it must be a force for #inclusion, not exclusion. Let’s innovate to inspire the next generation! Read the report and join us in making AI & technology a force for social mobility! 🔗https://lnkd.in/dJfW8WZq #AIforOpportunity #SocialMobility #TechForGood

We're beyond excited at the Social Mobility Commission to be working with EY Foundation and Social Tech Trust on the UK's first #GrandChallenge to improve social mobility prospects for those young people who need it most. If you want to get involved, the door's wide open! Get in touch and share your views - details below 👇🏻 #InnovationGeneration

I've moved a little out of my comfort zone with this one! I'm proud to be part of the Social Mobility Commission’s Economic Growth and Investment Group, hoping to make a difference and boost regional growth, entrepreneurship, and investment in economically disadvantaged areas outside of London and the South East. This goes to the heart of Business in the Community’s work—lifting up communities, driving economic improvement, and helping people thrive and reach their potential. The ripple effect is huge: stronger individuals, thriving businesses, and a more inclusive, resilient economy across every region and nation. We’re tackling the big questions: How do we unlock potential and drive sustainable growth? What policies, investment conditions, and support will truly make a difference? I’d love to hear your thoughts - what do you think will help? 👇 #EconomicGrowth #SocialMobility #Entrepreneurship #RegionalInvestment

Let’s innovate to inspire the next generation! Too many young people are held back — not by their talent but by barriers to education, employment, and networks. These barriers don’t just limit individual potential; they prevent entire industries and economies from accessing diverse, untapped talent.     Technology should be a force for progress, not exclusion — but if AI and emerging tech aren’t designed with equity in mind, they risk reinforcing the very inequalities we need to dismantle.     That’s why the EY Foundation, Social Mobility Commission, and #SocialTechTrust are exploring how AI and technology can remove systemic barriers and create new opportunities for young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds to succeed in the workplace.    This lays the groundwork for launching a #GrandChallenge, bringing together innovators, funders, and policymakers to explore how technology can drive real change in social mobility.     Running from February to April 2025, this partnership will:  ✅ Demonstrate how AI can break down the biggest barriers to social mobility  ✅ Engage tech innovators, funders, and policymakers in shaping AI for opportunity  ✅ Highlight key areas where AI and emerging technology can make the biggest impact     Join us in making AI & technology a force for social mobility. Share your insights and explore how AI and tech can unlock opportunities!     #AIforOpportunity #SocialMobility #TechForGood