{"id":227,"date":"2018-01-16T14:42:00","date_gmt":"2018-01-16T14:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/about-us\/press-releases\/social-mobility-partnership-launches\/"},"modified":"2025-12-17T15:18:57","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T15:18:57","slug":"social-mobility-partnership-launches","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/about-us\/press-releases\/social-mobility-partnership-launches\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Mobility Business Partnership launches"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Social Mobility Business Partnership launches<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Simply Business are proud to support even more opportunities for young people<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

London, January 16, 2018<\/strong> \u2013 A unique and award-winning social mobility programme, the Legal Social Mobility Partnership, is to be expanded \u2013 with Simply Business joining over 70 other organisations to help young people from non-privileged backgrounds access the legal profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Legal Social Mobility Partnership (LSMP) began in 2014, with founding organisations including ITV, Microsoft, Arnold Porter Kaye Scholar, Slaughter and May, and Harlequins RUFC (providing sports psychology led resilience training). The organisations collaborated to offer a week-long work insight opportunity for 20 London students. This was complemented by on-going coaching support for the participating students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2014, the programme has expanded to Greater Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton and Reading, bringing the total number of LSMP student places to over 300, while the the number of participating organisations offering work insight opportunities rose to 70 (including adidas, Barclays, Fremantle, Viacom, Oath, Manchester United, Manchester City, Plusnet, Virgin Atlantic, American Express, N Brown Group, Yeo Valley, EE, and Simply Business).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a launch event today in the House of Commons, hosted by Justin Madders MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Mobility, it was announced that the scheme is expanding further to become a registered charity \u2013 The Social Mobility Business Partnership (SMBP). It will widen its focus to promoting social mobility in business, with a particular focus on legal and accountancy professions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SMBP brings together professional bodies (including the ACCA, ICAEW, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and CILEx), social mobility experts, and existing profession-led movements (including The Sutton Trust and PRIME). This is alongside a number of commercial businesses, law and accountancy firms, and sports clubs, who will come together to deliver week-long, work insight and skills programmes for Year 12 students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2018, the SMBP plans to expand to further areas \u2013 this year launching in Norwich and Glasgow, as well as increasing the catchment in Leeds and Manchester to incorporate nearby Department of Education Opportunity Areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The programme is driven by ITV\u2019s Barry Matthews, who has acted as volunteer CEO since inception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelly Harris, Simply Business Legal and Social Impact Director said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI come from a non-privileged background and have experienced first hand the barriers that people from that background face when going into Law. In the 23 years I’ve been in the profession, that situation has improved but, in my view, we still have a long way to go to ensure everyone has fair access to opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe support a number of social mobility initiatives at Simply Business, so we jumped at the opportunity to get involved in the SMBP \u2013 we love the approach to blend valuable work experience at leading companies with the personal resilience students may need to overcome challenges. It’s a winning combination and we’re thrilled to play a part in the SBMP’s expansion \u2013 supporting even more young people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barry Matthews said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHaving grown up on a council estate, I know from personal experience that entering into a profession or business seems like a huge mountain to climb when you have no network or understanding of what is required. I wanted to do something to provide bright students from my background with a fighting chance of success by providing them with confidence and social capital through exposure to our world as it is now and support through their career journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cResilience has been a big part of my life and it has been strengthened when other people in positions of power have shared their stories with me about bouncing back. This is why we have included a professional sport resilience training day (authored by ex-rugby professional and Olympic and business performance coach Mark Soden) as part of the SMBP package.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrew Garard, Chair of the SMBP Board of Trustees said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen Barry came to me in 2014 with the idea of helping young students from less advantaged backgrounds gain an insight into working in the legal profession, it resonated straight away. I have a similar background to Barry and was determined to support him to grow the scheme. Through his and the team\u2019s fantastic dedication we can now launch the SMBP.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notes to Editors \u2013 about the Social Mobility Business Partnership<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The programme starts with an induction where students learn about the different pathways to the legal and accountancy professions, the future impact of AI on the delivery of professional services, and the facts about university finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, students participate in a week-long programme of work insight and skills experience in which they are given the opportunity to spend a day at four different high profile businesses. In addition, they attend a day run by a professional sports club to learn about the psychology of resilience and goal achievement models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, students have access to online \u2018virtual coaching\u2019 from legal, accountancy, and business professionals. Coaches are on hand to help with creating personal statements\/CVs, compiling application forms, and preparing for interviews. The Social Mobility Business Partnership objectives are to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n