Two of Gloucestershire's biggest employers have been named as companies who are doing the most to encourage social mobility in the workplace.

For the first time a Top 50 Social Mobility Employer Index has been produced showing employers who encourage talent from all backgrounds.

The list includes Lloyds Banking Group (listed at 22) which has a major centre employing 900 at Barnwood, closely followed by EDF Energy(23) with a 1,600 strong workforce at its Barnwood offices. Severn Trent, which supplies most of the water in the county, is ranked at 38. 

The Index is a joint initiative between the Social Mobility Foundation, the Social Mobility Commission and the City of London Corporation. The aim is to encourage firms to share their initiatives and progress in becoming more inclusive employers.

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

The top ten firms in the Index are Grant Thornton UK; KPMG UK; Skanska UK; Standard Life; Deloitte UK; JP Morgan; PwC; Berwin Leighton Paisner; WM Morrisons Supermarkets and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Fewer one in five firms (17 per cent) now set social mobility targets as part of their business strategy.

Alan Milburn, chair of the Social Mobility Commission, said: "Improving the UK's dismal social mobility record requires new action by employers and not just governments.

"It is very welcome that more employers are changing their workforce strategies to ensure they don't lose out on talented people from less privileged backgrounds. The top 50 are paving the way and I thank them for their efforts. Where they are leading, I hope others will follow."

Picture credit: Pixabay

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