Is Britain missing out on “bags of talent”? In the latest episode of the Social Mobility Commission podcast Commissioner Ryan Henson speaks to former Education Secretary Justine Greening.

Justine is a former Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities and the Founder and Chair of The Purpose Coalition, a coalition of organisations that are committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and boosting social mobility.

Together they discuss,

- why there can be no one size fits all approach to social mobility

- how business can be a force for good

- what AI means for education and skills

How is Liverpool closing the opportunity gap? Our Chair Alun Francis and Mayor Steve Rotheram examine:

• how devolution is helping to create meaningful opportunities for people in the Liverpool City Region.

• the role of technology and innovation in unlocking social mobility.

• alternative career pathways and the value of applied learning.

Find out more about the topics covered in this episode 

How can Britain tackle persistent barriers to economic growth in ‘left behind’ communities?  Rob Wilson explores the issues with David Richards, managing partner of venture capital firm Yorkshire AI Labs.

Together they discuss some of the barriers to economic growth outside of London, drawing on David’s experience of business in Sheffield and South Yorkshire as well as his years of experience working in Silicon Valley.  They also explore the support and investment needed to secure innovation and growth, the role of entrepreneurship as well as the social mobility opportunities represented by the disruptive effects of AI.

Childcare, family and early years all have an important role in social mobility outcomes in the UK.  Resham Kotecha, Social Mobility Commission Deputy Chair, speaks to Ed Davies, Policy Director at the Center for Social Justice about why childcare matters.

They discuss the Center for Social Justice’s recent report ‘Give Families the Credit’, which advocates for prioritising taxpayer support to families with children under four who are in their most formative years and also the most likely to be living in poverty.

Social mobility is about competitive advantage not corporate social responsibility.  Hollie Crompton, Social Mobility Lead at PWC, and Neil Morrison, HR Director for Severn Trent, discuss how putting social mobility at the heart of their inclusion policies has allowed them to bring talent into their businesses and empowered them to deliver.

Rob Wilson, Deputy Chair of the Social Mobility Commission, discusses the value of qualifications with former Minister for Universities and Science, The Rt Hon. Lord Willetts FRS.

Resham Kotecha, Deputy Chair of the Social Mobility Commission, discusses regional inequalities, innovation, devolution, breakfast clubs and more with former Cabinet Minister, Ed Balls.

Rob Wilson, Deputy Chair of the Social Mobility Commission hosts the latest edition of our podcast with Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sunderland, discussing early years care and what's best for a child's development.

Resham Kotecha, Deputy Chair of the Social Mobility Commission discusses artificial intelligence (AI) with Adrian Joseph OBE, including how it can be used to help address social mobility, representation in the tech sector, how organisations can make sure that AI is used ethically and much more.

Alun Francis, Chair of the Social Mobility Commission, interviews Tom Richmond, Founder and Director of EDSK, in a National Apprenticeship Week episode looking at the potential apprenticeships have to improve social mobility in the UK and what's currently holding them back.

Deputy Chair of the Social Mobility Commission, Rob Wilson, interviews education consultant Barry Smith.

Alun Francis, Chair of the Social Mobility Commission, interviews Samantha Callan, the Co-Founder and Director of Family Hubs, on the programme's strengths and weaknesses.

Alun Francis, Chair of the Social Mobility Commission interviews Naomi Eisenstadt, the first Director of Sure Start

Alun Francis, Interim Chair of the Social Mobility Commission, discusses contextualised admissions and recruitment with a panel of experts. 

Katharine Birbalsingh, Chair of the Social Mobility Commission, speaks to the UK’s first Professor of Social Mobility, Lee Elliot Major (Exeter University), about the role parents and families play in social mobility.

Social Mobility Talks is the new podcast from the Social Mobility Commission. In each episode, Katharine Birbalsingh, Chair of the Social Mobility Commission, chats to experts to discover what works (and what doesn’t!) to improve social mobility.

In our first episode, released on 25th October, she’ll be joined by the UK’s first Professor of Social Mobility, Lee Elliot Major (Exeter University) to discuss the role that parents and families play in social mobility.