Social Mobility Foundation Annual Review 2014
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Transcript of Social Mobility Foundation Annual Review 2014
Annual Review2014
Welcome to the SMF...
2
2014 saw the SMF embark on the first step of an exciting expansion
plan when we opened our first regional office in Manchester. This is the
first of several offices planned for the coming years so that by the end
of 2018 young people can access what we offer wherever they reside in
the UK.
Another key part of the strategy to reach the rest of the UK is our
residential programmes. We were very pleased that CH2M HILL and
KPMG began supporting these programmes in 2014 and that Clifford
Chance LLP and Health Education England will begin doing so in 2015.
Our core programme, The Aspiring Professionals Programme (APP),
went from strength to strength with our biggest ever cohort, the bulk
of nearly 900 young people overall, and with 60 events delivered – the
largest number to date.
We also had guest appearances from prominent individuals at our
events, including Boris Johnson and Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP. We
topped off the year with a special event at which participants from
our programmes shared their stories. This was a vivid reminder to the
hundreds of individuals who support us why their involvement is so
important and why we’re very grateful for it.
David Johnston
Chief Executive
The Social Mobility Foundation (SMF) is a charity which aims to make a practical improvement in social mobility for young people from low-income backgrounds.
CONTENTS:
Welcome to the SMF 2
The Issue 4
The SMF Approach 5
SMF Programmes 6
University Application Support 8
Work Placements 10
Access to High-Level Professionals 12
Skills Sessions 14
Into Employment 16
Regional Expansion 18
Celebrating the SMF 20
SMF Impact 22
Thanks to our Supporters 23
In 2014, we began our journey to become a national charity, working across the UK by 2018.
MESSAGEFROM OUR CEO
2013One
London office
2014Offices in
London and Manchester
2015Offices in London,
Manchester and Glasgow
2016 Offices
in London, Manchester,
Glasgow, Birmingham and
Newcastle
2017-18The SMF becomes a
national charity
Social Mobility Foundation 2014 Annual Review 3
In a year3 of the BBC’s Question Time, 65% of guests were Russell Group graduates4
Unpaid internships
are rarely an option for
students from low-income
backgrounds
The IssueTHE MOST ADVANTAGED STUDENTS
ARE SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO ENTER A HIGHLY SELECTIVE UNIVERSITY THAN THE MOST
DISADVANTAGED1
Top employers recruit from an average of only
20 out of 115 universities
Over 60% of trainee
barristers are from Russell Group
universities. 28% are Oxbridge
graduates
of the population attend independent schools and yet independent school
alumni make up:
7+93+O7% 71+29+O71% of senior judges
43+57+O43% of newspaper columnists
33+67+O33% of MPs
1 ‘Bridging the Social Divide’, The Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission, March 2015
ONLY 8.3% OF DOCTORS
IN TRAINING IN THE UK
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE
SCHOOL MEALS2
2 ‘National Training Survey 2013: Socioeconomic Status Questions’, General Medical Council
3 September 2013–July 2014 4 Social Mobility Foundation research 2014
1 in 4 employers across all professions use unpaid interns
8.3%
Sources for profession and education-related statistics in this review are: ‘Elitist Britain? (2014)’ and ‘State of the Nation 2014’, Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission, unless otherwise stated
All SMF-related statistics in this review are based on the responses received at the time of writing4
Students are presented with an array of opportunities:
• Predicted at least ABB at A-Level
AND• Obtained at least 4 As at GCSE
The SMF ApproachWe draw from more than 400 schools and colleges
across the UK to support eligible sixth form students.Students are hand-picked for suitability.
Students start university with the SMF by their side
and can access...
Bursting with
potential
1
2 3
4 With our assistance, students embark on professional careers
they otherwise might never have accessed, including:
Accountant Investment BankerLawyer Doctor Civil Servant
A mentor working in their chosen
profession Sessions to develop
students’ soft skills
Advice on applying
to top universities
Work placements
in the profession
they wish to enter
Support with applications for paid internships
Regular updates on their dream professions
Workshops on succeeding at assessment centres
• Eligible for Free School Meals
OR• First in their family to attend university, and school has high number of students on Free School Meals
Low-income
backgrounds
Social Mobility Foundation 2014 Annual Review 5
SMF ProgrammesStudent participants are supported through three broad SMF programmes:
the Aspiring Professionals Programme, Residential Programmes and the City Talent Initiative. We are proud to continue to manage the Speaker’s Parliamentary Placements Scheme, which provides
paid internships in Parliament.
ASPIRINGPROFESSIONALSPROGRAMME
GLASGOW
LEEDS
MANCHESTERLIVERPOOL
NOTTINGHAM
BIRMINGHAM
LONDON
• Our core and most established programme
• Supports the largest number of students
• Runs in 7 cities
• Covers 11 professional sectors
ACCOUNTANCY ARCHITECTURE BANKING & FINANCE
BIOLOGY & CHEMISTRY BUSINESS ENGINEERING &
PHYSICS
LAW MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE POLITICS TECHNOLOGY NO PREFERENCE
7 Target Cities
CITYTALENTINITIATIVE• Established in 2013
• Aimed at our highest achieving students who have an interest in a career in the City
• Support comes from prestigious City firms: Bank of America Merrill Lynch, EY, J.P. Morgan and Strutt & Parker
• Participants commit to a placement with a firm every year until the students graduate
5 year commitment
Target city
SMF office
6
Students on all of our programmes access unparalleled support, which includes:
University application supportA professional mentor
Skills sessions Work placement opportunities
Any age
SPEAKER’SPARLIAMENTARYPLACEMENTSSCHEME• Set up by Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP to tackle the culture of unpaid work
placements in Parliament and open the doors to a wider population
• For people from any educational background
• The 2013–14 cohort were the most successful so far in obtaining employment, with 7 out of 10 entering related professions shortly after their 9 month placement with an MP
RESIDENTIALPROGRAMMES• For students who would otherwise be unable
to access our services in their home areas
• Students travel to another city and get a taste of life in their chosen profession
• Placement providers are CH2M HILL, the Civil Service, J.P. Morgan, KPMG and Linklaters LLP
• In 2015 we welcome two new placement partners: Clifford Chance LLP and Health Education England
New providers
in 2015
Social Mobility Foundation 2014 Annual Review 7
“I really enjoyed the visit to the University of Edinburgh. It was such a great opportunity for me and it’s now my top choice university.
Trips like these to universities are so helpful, especially to those in my situation. I’m really grateful to have been given the chance to visit.”
Chloe, 2014 SMF student
University Application Support
Almost double the number of students had
their personal statements checked by volunteers in
2014 compared to 2013
8
63+37+O of SMF student university destinations in 2014 were Russell Group universities
63%
Because we understand the relationship between university destinations and entry to our target professions, we continue to encourage students to consider highly selective universities.
UNIVERSITY VISITS
In 2014, students travelled with us to visit 16 of the UK’s leading universities, ranging from an overnight stay at the University of Exeter to a day trip at the University of Edinburgh. These visits are tailored for our students, with all travel costs covered, ensuring that students make informed decisions about which universities they apply to. After visiting a university with the SMF, more than half the students (57%) decide to apply to that institution.
WORKSHOPS
We have expanded the workshops we offer to students who are applying to university courses that require admissions tests and interviews. As well as continuing to deliver UKCAT/BMAT and interview practice for students on our Medicine strand, students applying to Oxbridge were supported with sessions from admissions tutors on the required tests and interviews.
CAREERS FAIR
Another successful University & Careers Fair was hosted by ICAEW, which saw us welcome 30 employers and universities to meet more than 200 students and talk to them about their options.
After the Medicine Interview Workshop, the percentage of students who felt confident in their interview technique increased from 14% to 97%
After the Medicine Interview workshop, the percentage of students who felt con�dent in their interview technique increased from 14% to 97%
14%
97%
BEFORE AFTER
Social Mobility Foundation 2014 Annual Review 9
“Being able to get hands-on experience of the collections within the Natural History Museum was both a privilege and an honour. Thanks to the SMF, I gained an insight into the kind of things getting a degree in a Life Science
could offer me as well as learning more about my subject in the wider world.”
Alisha, 2014 APP student (pictured)
Work Placements
10
90+10+O97+3+O
ACCOUNTANCY ARCHITECTURE BANKING & FINANCE
BIOLOGY & CHEMISTRY BUSINESS ENGINEERING &
PHYSICS
LAW MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE
POLITICS TECHNOLOGY NO PREFERENCE
“Working in partnership with the SMF allows us to reach talented young people who we may otherwise not have access to. We’re delighted that SMF student, Danielle, has been offered a place on our school leaver programme this year – it’s a clear indication of how working with the SMF is helping us to improve access to the profession for young people from a variety of backgrounds.”
Emily Milne-Home, Head of Student Attraction, KPMG Danielle
An important part of the support SMF students receive continues to be the short work placements within their professional sector of choice. These give students an invaluable insight into the sort of work environment they hope to enter in the future, and enables employers to engage with them at an early age.
We worked with employers to provide placements to students across
all of our seven target cities.
We were pleased to welcome new hosts this year, including
the Financial Times, Crossrail and a number of physics employers
through our relationship with the Institute of Physics.
In addition, one of the most positive developments for the SMF in
recent years has been the creation of residential work placement
programmes that allow us to work with young people wherever they reside in the UK. For students living outside our target
cities, the London-based residentials present the opportunity to gain
professional insight in sectors that are not easily accessible in their
home area.
We ran such residential programmes in partnership with the Civil
Service, J.P. Morgan, Linklaters LLP, and for the first time, CH2M HILL
and KPMG.
of students who undertook their placement at J.P. Morgan said they would like to work there in the future
97%
of employers said that working with the SMF helps them to reach students that they wouldn’t normally reach through traditional work placement channels
90%After their work placement at Linklaters LLP, 82% of students are confident that they will have a successful career
Before the work placement this figure was 57%
82%
57%
BEFORE AFTER
Social Mobility Foundation 2014 Annual Review 11
Access to High-Level Professionals
“I have really enjoyed working with Surya over the past year. It has not felt like a traditional mentoring relationship as I think we both have a lot to learn from each other. It has been really inspiring to watch someone intelligent, passionate and ambitious pursuing their goals.”
Prudence, 2014 SMF mentor
“Pru has been a wonderful mentor. She supported me greatly when I was writing my personal statement, introduced me to intellectually stimulating topics and encouraged me to debate. Most importantly, she was welcoming, approachable, clever and cool – what more could you want?”
Surya, 2014 SMF student
12
Access to High-Level Professionals
Every young person on our programmes is matched to someone from their chosen profession who commits to mentor them for a year. Mentoring plays a key part in ensuring SMF students receive sector-specific advice and encouragement at a crucial time in their education.
MP PLACEMENTSWe are fortunate to have the support of the three main political
parties. The party leaders, as well as a significant number of other
MPs, each hosted an SMF student on a work experience placement.
Access to the world of politics and these senior figures helps to give
our students the exposure and confidence to believe that they too
can work in highly influential professions.
MENTORINGIn 2014, we increased the number of large scale meet-ups for
mentoring pairs. Taylor Wessing LLP provided the setting for mentors
and mentees to get to know one another and for the students to build
their networks.
“I was delighted to join the team of mentors on the SMF programme.
The matching of mentees and mentors works really well and is
strongly supported by staff at the SMF. My involvement with my
mentees enables me to share my academic and professional
experiences and networks in a way that I hope will make a real
difference as they begin their journeys into higher education and the
world of work.”
Dr Ricky Joseph, SMF mentor
More than 15,000 emails exchanged between our 2014 mentoring pairs
Akian meets the Prime Minister, David Cameron
Naeem with Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, chats to SMF student, Oniqa
“My week in the parliamentary office of Ed Miliband allowed me to see how the office goes about preparing for everything from Prime Minister’s Questions to creating policy and responding to constituent queries. Above all, it gave me an insight into the side of politics the media neglects – the hard work, long hours and dedication put in by staff.”
Naeem, Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP’s office
Cro
wn
Cop
yrig
ht 2
014
Arr
on H
oare
Social Mobility Foundation 2014 Annual Review 13
Skills Sessions
14
Students benefited from a wider range of insight and skills sessions. Our supporters work with us to provide essential advice about career options and the skills students will need at university and in the workplace.
FUTURES DAYS
In 2014, our supporters hosted ‘Futures Days’ that offer our Year 12
students the opportunity to hear from professionals across their
sector of interest. This year, our Futures Days were generously
supported by organisations including Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP,
the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Academy of Engineering.
MAKING AN IMPRESSION
SMF staff continued to work alongside the students to prepare
them for entering a work environment. Our ‘Making an Impression’
workshops in Manchester and London equipped students with
the knowledge they need to impress employers and feel more
confident in an environment that they are unlikely to have previously
experienced.
DISCUSSION GROUPS
We broadened our discussion groups to include an increased number
of sectors. Prestigious organisations facilitating the sessions included:
the New Statesman; Little, Brown Book Group and Essex Court
Chambers. Discussion groups provide an opportunity for students
to develop their research skills and articulacy in preparation for
interviews and seminar settings at university.
“I think the SMF selection process is clearly working: we were incredibly impressed by the calibre of the students. I honestly would not have been surprised had we been told we were working with university undergraduates, rather than students still at school.”
Tom Ford, Barrister, Essex Court Chambers
of students who attended our Engineering & Physics Futures Day now feel they have a better understanding of the careers available to them
91+9+O91%
Students at the
Financial Conduct Authority discussing
workplace culture in the finance
sector
Social Mobility Foundation 2014 Annual Review 15
“Through the provision of work placements and networking opportunities, the SMF has enabled me to gain the
necessary experience to launch a successful career.”
Akeem (pictured), who has secured employment with Accenture in 2015
Into employment
16
We have expanded the activities offered to SMF students currently at university, with events to develop their ability to
impress employers and tackle graduate recruitment assessment centres.
One such event was a Career Insight Day for undergraduate students who are looking to find out more about the careers available to them following their degrees. We were fortunate to have speakers from ICAEW, the Civil Service and the Financial Conduct Authority.
Longstanding SMF supporter, The Spectator, invited students they have hosted on work placements in previous years to a
networking tea with Chairman, Andrew Neil, and Editor, Fraser Nelson. It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to reconnect with the magazine and network with their SMF peers. The Spectator has thus far employed two former SMF students full-time and we look forward to following their progress.
Organisations now employing
SMF alumni include: Accenture,
Baker & McKenzie LLP, Bank of
America Merrill Lynch, the Civil
Service, Clifford Chance LLP,
KPMG and J.P. Morgan
We are especially pleased when we hear from participants on our programmes who have been offered full-time employment in the professions we target, particularly when it’s with our supporters such as Accenture, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and KPMG.
“The Career Insight Day introduced me to the numerous possibilities available with my degree, and how I can adapt my skills to the working world.”
Asyma, SMF undergraduate
Andrew Neil addresses returning
SMF students at The Spectator
Social Mobility Foundation 2014 Annual Review 17
Regional Expansion
“It was a great honour to be part of the Social Mobility Foundation’s launch event in Manchester. Meeting the people who have been helped by the organisation and hearing about the projects they are running in the area was truly inspirational. It is so important to inspire young people whatever background they have and the SMF is providing a great bridge between students and businesses to make sure that this happens.”
Steph McGovern, BBC Business presenter
“I am lucky to be mentored by the Head of BBC North West. He invited me to Media City and gave me a tour around one of the buildings and studios, while giving me further advice on my future. It was such a wonderful opportunity.”
Katie, 2014 SMF student from Manchester
2014: MANCHESTER OFFICE OPENED
FIRSTOFFICE
A BIG STEPTOWARDS OUR GOAL
OF ACCESS FOR
MORE SUPPORTFOR STUDENTS IN
STUDENT APPLICATIONS
FROM THE REGIONINCREASED BY 170% IN 2014
ONLY 18% OF POOR CHILDREN IN THE NORTH WEST PROGRESS TO
60 people attended the reception to
launch our Manchester office,
hosted by DWF
Katie at Media City
EXCITING NEWS!
18+82+O THEIR HOME AREA
ALL YOUNG PEOPLEWHEREVER THEYRESIDE IN THE UK
© P
hoto
grap
hy b
y Z
ehra
OUTSIDE OURLONDON HQ
HIGHER EDUCATION
18%
18
Regional Expansion
GLASGOW
LEEDS
MANCHESTERLIVERPOOL
NOTTINGHAM
BIRMINGHAM
LONDON
“We are delighted to support this excellent initiative, with the benefits it brings to a number of our young people. Widening access is something that Glasgow is passionate about and we will do all that we can to push the boundaries and open doors for Glasgow pupils.”
Maureen McKenna, Executive Director of Education, Glasgow City Council
“The Social Mobility Foundation’s programmes have been an excellent resource to help raise the aspirations of our students. As a school based in one of the most uniformly deprived boroughs of the UK it has opened up outstanding opportunities for students that they would be unable to source themselves, as well as encouraging the development of softer skills that are required by top employers alongside academic ability.”
Hasmita Mistry, Careers Advisor, Sandwell Academy
“The SMF students were fantastic and there are great benefits that working together brings to the students, the Trust and hopefully our future patients. I felt that the students we were accepting via the SMF often were far more keen and interested than those we see from well-known high performing schools.”
Stephanie Cater, Work Experience Coordinator, Royal Liverpool University Hospital
We have supported students across several target cities (below) for a number of years and the opening of our Manchester office in 2014 was the first step towards extending the support we can offer in students’ home areas. We also continue to bring students from across the UK to residential programmes in London, meaning we were able to support young people from places such as Londonderry, Plymouth and Dunfermline in 2014.
Residential student locations
Target city
SMF office
Social Mobility Foundation 2014 Annual Review 19
Celebrating the SMF
“To say the Social Mobility Foundation gave me direction in life is an understatement. I have gone from being a student who was disillusioned with a world seemingly void of opportunity, to one that has found the motivation and determination to drive me
to become a successful investment banker.”
Joe, 2014 SMF student (pictured addressing guests at J.P. Morgan)
20
Celebrating the SMFIn January 2014, the Financial Services Lawyers Association very
generously put on a second fundraising dinner for the SMF,
attended by more than 140 individuals from across financial services
and raising c.£25,000 towards our regional expansion. One
of the highlights of the evening was an appearance from the Mayor
of London, Boris Johnson, who met with a group of participants
from our programmes before giving an entertaining speech to the
assembled guests.
In July, we thanked our supporters at our annual summer reception, kindly hosted by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. It
was attended by 200 people, who heard from Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP about the importance of social mobility.
In December, more than 150 guests joined us at J.P. Morgan for the
SMF’s first event of its kind – one planned and delivered
almost entirely by young people we have supported. Year 13 and
undergraduate SMF students volunteered from around the country
to share their SMF stories in the event, entitled ‘Stories of Aspiring Professionals’. Apart from a brief appearance
by a representative from J.P. Morgan at the beginning and our Chief
Executive at the end, every speaker had been a participant in our
activities in recent years. Many guests accepted our invitation to bring
someone who may want to become involved with our work in 2015.
We were delighted to deliver three large-scale events that brought together professionals and students in a relaxed setting to reflect on the impact of the charity’s work.
SMF students with Boris Johnson
Alan Johnson with guests
Renato talks to assembled guests
Social Mobility Foundation 2014 Annual Review 21
of employers said that the SMF students they hosted on a work placement were of the calibre they would employ after university
95%
sMF ImpactThe Institute for Fiscal Studies has published results of an evaluation1 of our impact on higher education outcomes, funded by J.P. Morgan. It found:
2014 at a glance:
The scale of our impact on elite
university entry is akin to a candidate having
A*A*A* at A-Level rather than AAA
We increased
the probability of attending a Russell
Group university by up to
27%
We increased
the probability of attending a university
most visited by top employers by up to
869new students
supported
1 ‘An Evaluation of the Impact of the Social Mobility Foundation Programmes on Education Outcomes’, IFS Report R102 (2015)
43%
97%of students said
their work placement exceeded their expectations
Of students attending university in 2014,
63%entered a Russell Group university
22
Thanks to our supporters…
We’d like to thank all of the companies and individuals who enable us to continue to support young people in reaching their potential. Supporters include:
TRUSTEES
Sir Victor Blank (Chairman)
Lis Astall
Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP
Tom Cassels
Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell MP
Sir Terry Leahy
Theresa Loar
Fraser Nelson
Dr Geoff Parks
Trevor Phillips OBE
STAFF
David Johnston (Chief Executive)
Ayesha Begum
Deb Conner (Secondment from KPMG)
Trishna Datta
Emily Hodgson
Rubeca Hussain
Sammy Hussain
Charlynn Koranteng
Fiona McCourt
Paul McDonald
Isobel Plant
Sally Weatherall
Elsie Wraighte
As we continue our exciting plans for
regional development, we rely on the dedicated support of
employers and volunteers in providing mentoring, work placements, venues, speakers and financial backing. We’d like to hear from you if you think you can help us in achieving our vision of
better social mobility for young people, wherever they reside
in the UK
Photographs © Charlotte King Photography (unless otherwise indicated)
Page 18 icons (house and office) © Emir Simsek/shutterstock.com
Design & illustrations: Catherine Charnock Creative www.catherinecharnock.co.uk
Social Mobility Foundation 2014 Annual Review 23
twitter: @socialmobilityf
www.socialmobility.org.uk
Registered charity no. 1115888