Successive governments have pledged to improve social mobility in the UK, yet this country historically has one of the poorest rates of social mobility among G7 nations, having ranked 21st in the World Economic Forum’s Global Social Mobility Index 2020. This means there is little chance of an individual from a low-income background receiving the same opportunities as someone from a higher socio-economic background – regardless of talent or how hard they work.
While people from deprived backgrounds are achieving better results in education, barriers in the workplace still prevent them progressing through the ranks.
Social mobility: A definition
The term ‘social mobility’ refers to the ability of people from underprivileged backgrounds to improve their social status, breaking the boundaries of the social class into which they were born.
Social mobility is more than just a moral issue of equality of opportunity; research shows good social mobility boosts the economic and social prosperity of a nation.
“Social mobility is about giving people control over their own destinies, and unleashing their true potential… It’s about ensuring that people are able to get on through their own talents and efforts.” – Social Mobility Commission
Understanding social mobility in the workplace
The transition from education into full-time employment is a critical moment for social mobility.
Without pre-existing connections, and potentially fewer qualifications, it can be difficult for people from underprivileged backgrounds to attain and progress in professional roles.
Research from the Social Mobility Commission suggests half of adults from the poorest backgrounds receive no training after leaving school. Even in a professional role, they earn on average 17% less than more privileged colleagues.
Organisations can help to break the cycle and ‘level the playing field’. By offering equal opportunities to everyone, they can ensure everyone has the chance to progress, regardless of their background.
By providing development opportunities at all levels and removing barriers to participation, businesses can encourage social mobility, providing those from lower socio-economic backgrounds with a ‘second chance’.
“Talent is everywhere, but all too often opportunity isn’t. The futures of far too many young people in the UK are determined by background, not potential.” – Career Ready, the national social mobility charity.
Why is social mobility important to organisations?
Employers that provide employees with the opportunities and tools to improve their social mobility reap the rewards.
By rooting out and investing in talent, they build diverse, loyal, high-performing teams of engaged workers that better reflect the make-up of their customer base and wider society. What’s more, the range of perspectives and insights this diverse workforce has to offer may lead to greater creativity, problem solving and innovation.
“At every stage of the life cycle we are losing gifted people who could be participating more in our society… We must act decisively to change it.”
Social Mobility Commission: The State of the Nation Report 2018-19
Unlocking social mobility: the role of accessible digital learning
At Cranfield School of Management, our flexible, accessible online stackable courses allow organisations to tailor bespoke learning pathways for employees, enabling them to upskill, reskill and develop their aptitudes and capabilities – whatever their start in life.
Modules have been designed to be as accessible as possible, and to remove some of the most common barriers to learning for those coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. Bite-size chunks of pay-as-you-go, self-paced learning can be accessed on demand, and the only entry requirement is classroom level competency in English.
To discover how Cranfield Online’s stackable courses could help your organisation overcome social barriers, view our course portfolio or visit stand G10 at World of Learning.
About Cranfield School of Management
Cranfield School of Management is one of the oldest business schools in Europe. As part of Cranfield University, one of a handful of the UK’s only wholly postgraduate universities, we are uniquely placed to connect technology and leadership. Our contribution to global innovation is world-leading, changing the way society thinks, works and learns.
Cranfield offers powerful postgraduate courses, be it full-time, part-time, or online. Cranfield Online melds together the best of academic theory, with real world practise. Delivered via bite-sized modules, these micro-credentials can build to an online Master’s.
Cranfield is also proud to offer the Senior Leader Apprenticeship, boasting a 100% pass rate, with 80% achieving merit/distinction. Students can progress onto the Executive MBA to solidify their leadership skills.