Social Mobility Commission

Did you see Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram on Gogglebox debating Twiglets versus Skips and Celebrity Traitors? Now watch them cover social mobility, regional devolution and alternative pathways for young people. No mention of crisps, unfortunately. Link below 👇

How can employers influence socio-economic inequalities and social mobility in the UK? We’ve published a new report reviewing and evaluating the evidence on what works, and making recommendations for future practical support for employers. Link in comments👇

🚨 Out today: The Local Innovation & Economic Dynamism Index Business and economic dynamism can unlock opportunities for social mobility through faster growth, higher productivity & better-paying jobs. Our new tool sheds light on which parts of the UK are making the most progress.

From Neets to Numeracy and access to music to the plight of Britain’s coastal communities, our work has been cited in a number of parliamentary debates over the past few months.

Today our Chair Alun Francis discussed the complexities of supporting young people reach their full potential at the Raise Up Summit in Liverpool, He said "there are challenges for all young people but the challenges they face are not the same'.

National Numeracy has released a new report marking 5 years of the National Numeracy Leadership Council! 🎉 Core skills like numeracy directly impact life chances from childhood into adulthood.

Motivated young people are earning technical qualifications, only to find no jobs that match these skills in their local area. If we want young people to thrive and not ‘leave to achieve’, regional growth and opportunities have to keep up. 🧵

However, expanding major projects like the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone & Multiversity are opening up routes to long-term careers in tech & engineering. More projects like these are needed across the UK.

Motivated young people are earning technical qualifications, only to find no jobs that match these skills in their local area. If we want young people to thrive and not ‘leave to achieve’, regional growth and opportunities have to keep up. 🧵

The journey to becoming NEET often starts well before 16. Failing to achieve any GCSE qualifications is a strong predictor. The growing focus on vocational routes is to be applauded, but we mustn't lose sight of these foundational qualifications.

New @ONS Census data highlights the sharp regional divides for young people aged 16-24 who are #NEET: Highest: Blackpool (22.2% males, 20.4% females) Lowest: Bath & NE Somerset (6.1% males), York (4.6% females) This is part of a pattern of entrenched regional disadvantage 🧵

Many of these areas consistently rank among the least favourable areas for youth employment opportunities. To solve regional youth unemployment, we need to move away from "one-size-fits-all" national strategies and instead champion localised, employer-led solutions

New @ONS Census data highlights the sharp regional divides for young people aged 16-24 who are #NEET: Highest: Blackpool (22.2% males, 20.4% females) Lowest: Bath & NE Somerset (6.1% males), York (4.6% females) This is part of a pattern of entrenched regional disadvantage 🧵

Chair, Alun Francis, highlights, Blackpool is a town rich in opportunity and economic diversity, yet it faces distinct challenges with high rates of youth disengagement. Tackling youth inactivity requires understanding local realities, strengths, and specific barriers.

Nearly 1m young people in the UK are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET). To look beyond the stats, we went to Blackpool, to speak directly with young people with lived experience.

Mainstream support can feel frustratingly inadequate.. Young people told us they felt let down by rigid, one-size-fits-all systems. What actually works is empathetic, practical, and personalised guidance.

Nearly 1m young people in the UK are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET). To look beyond the stats, we went to Blackpool, to speak directly with young people with lived experience.

Talent is spread evenly, opportunity isn't. The success of #MBacc shows what’s possible when government & business work together to shape education around the needs of the local economy. Applying this nationwide can help spread opportunity to the places where it's needed most.

🚨 Are top universities doing enough to recruit students from lower socio-economic backgrounds? We looked at student intake vs those who met the academic requirements. 📉 Over half of English Russell Group unis sit in the bottom 25% of our rankings. See the full breakdown 👇

Young people not in education, employment, or training face unique challenges. Next week we will publish in-depth research into the daily lives and experiences of these young people in Blackpool, setting out the case for targeted support based on individual needs and place-based approaches.

Our Chair, Alun Francis, recently gave evidence to the Commons Education Committee inquiry on the Schools White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving. He highlighted the importance of young people being empowered to make choices, and seeing how their learning leads to viable careers

Success relies on collaboration across the entire ecosystem: • Balancing school & college expertise • Strategic authority leadership • Active employer brokerage

Our Chair, Alun Francis, recently gave evidence to the Commons Education Committee inquiry on the Schools White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving. He highlighted the importance of young people being empowered to make choices, and seeing how their learning leads to viable careers

Key takeaway: Vocational & Technical Qualifications must never be treated as a second-class option. They must offer high-value choices developed with students and parents, never imposed on them.