Foreword Government intervention, education and economic forces can all influence an individual’s ability to get on in life from a disadvantaged position.
I and my partners started our own business, True Potential, at the height of the 2007/8 financial crisis. It is a thriving financial services business employing over 300 people in the North East with well-paid, tech jobs.
But at the very heart of solving Britain’s lack of social mobility are those businesses which recognise the value of finding and nurturing talent from all backgrounds.
That experience is further proof that there is never an optimal time to start a business and there are always a million and one reasons why not too.
It is they that drive the opportunities, culture and vision that can propel people beyond what their circumstances had otherwise laid out for them. This report comes amid great economic turbulence, with some employers and employees unable to operate in current conditions. It is also imperative, however, that efforts to continue driving up social mobility are not postponed until brighter times. In fact, the pay-offs that come from supporting social mobility are exactly what businesses and indeed the country need right now. New talent brings fresh ideas and enthusiasm, while decision-making that has input from the broadest range of backgrounds is proven to be more profitable; and could be vital in innovating a route through these challenging times. We also know that purposeful businesses are more appealing to customers and investors.
We must ensure that young people in disadvantaged communities are exposed to entrepreneurialism – and given the tools they need to follow this path.
ENCOURAGING BUSINESSES TO CREATE A CLEAR RUNWAY FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP OF THEIR ORGANISATION IS ALSO AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE SOCIAL MOBILITY SOLUTION. Certainly at True Potential this approach has been integral to our success, as this report demonstrates.
Embracing social mobility, therefore, is no fluffy concept to be dropped at the first sign of trouble. The cold, hard facts tell us that will be absolutely critical in the months ahead.
I hope the following insights on this and our other social mobility practices prove useful to you and your organisation.
For individuals trying to better their situation and go further in life than their parents, meanwhile, adaptability is key. Working practices and consumer demands are changing and anyone with ambitious career plans must change accordingly to increase their employability.
Chairman, True Potential and co-founder of the Social Mobility Pledge
David Harrison
I sincerely hope, too, that would-be entrepreneurs are not deterred by the current doom and gloom. Some of the most successful businesses were forged in difficult times and out of periods of adversity can come ideas that changed the world.
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