Aspire Top 50 Social Mobility Employer Index

Aspire Housing has been ranked as one of the Top 50 employers in the UK’s first-ever Social Mobility Employer Index.

The index is a joint initiative between the Social Mobility Foundation and Social Mobility Commission, in partnership with the City of London Corporation.

It ranks Britain’s employers on the actions they take to ensure they are open to accessing and progressing talent from all backgrounds.

Research has consistently shown that people from more affluent backgrounds take a disproportionate number of the best jobs and that employers tend to employ graduates who went to private schools and elite universities.

Aspire Housing has been ranked 18 in the index for the commendable work it has taken to tackle this and enable those from lower socio-economic backgrounds to succeed, through apprenticeships, recruitment, selection and progression.

The index is being announced today at the City of London and in a supplement in The Times newspaper, where Aspire Housing is listed alongside companies like PwC, KPMG and Rolls Royce.

Tim Edwards, Director of Business Development at PM Training, part of Aspire Housing, said: “Social mobility is hugely important to us, we give people equal opportunity to succeed and realise their potential, whatever type of background they come from.

“I know from personal experience this approach works, I started my career as an engineering apprentice with Michelin and it set me on a positive path.

“It was a memorable time that still lives with me today, and so I gain a lot of satisfaction from helping to make sure these opportunities exist for others.”

David Johnston, chief executive of the Social Mobility Foundation, said: “All the Top 50 firms in the Social Mobility Employer Index should be applauded for the progress they are making towards ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to get in and get on, regardless of their background.

“They should be congratulated both for having prioritised social mobility and for being prepared to have their processes and practices independently scrutinised.”