Jon Hering’s Post

❓ Did you know that only 35% of UK adults believe that everyone has a fair chance to go as far as their hard work will take them? Today is #SocialMobilityDay, a time to reflect on class inequality in the UK and what more can be done to support the cause of social mobility. Recent research from the Sutton Trust shows that most of the public (83%) think there is a big class gap in Britain today, with 63% saying it is either bigger or the same as 50 years ago. With the negative impact of Covid-19 on students' education, followed by the cost of living crisis, we risk undoing important progress made towards a more socially mobile society. I'm very proud to work for upReach, a charity that works tirelessly to support students from lower socio-economic backgrounds to access and sustain top graduate jobs. As a first-generation uni student, I remember experiencing a lot of imposter syndrome when I reached university. One of the main things that reassured me was a pep talk from a very kind seminar leader (after I had a slight breakdown during his office hour) who reminded me of everything I'd achieved to get to university and that I deserved to be there. This memory always reminds me why 1-to-1 support can be so critical at university, and why I'm really proud to work for a charity that provides this to so many students from lower income backgrounds. If you have a spare 5 minutes do give the below video a quick watch (briefly starring yours truly!) to learn more about social mobility and the work that we do 👇

𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗼𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆? Many young people across the UK will receive their A-Level results today. It’s a notable reminder of the role that education can play in shaping a person’s future. For many, this day brings immense pressure – pressure to meet expectations, to secure a place at university, and to lay the groundwork for a successful career. But it’s important not to forget that education can be just one piece of the bigger puzzle. The pathway from education to employment is not always straightforward, especially for those from less advantaged backgrounds. Systemic barriers such as limited access to networks, financial constraints, and a lack of role models in their desired fields can make this journey particularly challenging. These obstacles often mean that talent and potential can go unrecognised, simply because the playing field isn’t level. That’s why we need to challenge the status quo. Employers should look beyond traditional markers of achievement and recognise the potential in candidates. The skills, creativity, and resilience that young people develop outside of the classroom are just as valuable as what is learned within it. At PageGroup, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workforce where everyone has the chance to succeed. We continue to partner with organisations and initiatives that promote social mobility, ensuring that doors are opened for those who need it most. To all those receiving results today, good luck, and remember: it’s okay not to have everything figured out. You don’t need to know exactly what you want to do or who you want to be right now. Your future is not defined by a piece of paper. It’s shaped by your ambition, your perseverance, and the opportunities you seize. #SocialMobility #PageGroup #Inclusion #Opportunity

💡 Great reminder that careers are often not linear & opportunities not equal. I can speak from my own experience: 👩🎓 I am the first and only person in my family to go to University 💸 My initial plan was to go into Development Aid or Foreign Affairs. However, confronted with many entry barriers (e.g. many years of unpaid internships - which were not financially feasible for me nor my family), I found my way into Recruitment "by chance" - (Lucky me! 🍀) 🦄 My career at PageGroup kicked off and I was very lucky to find a company which offered fantastic opportunities for growth - no matter what your background or initial situation looks like. I therefore encourage my clients to look beyond the "picture perfect CV" and appreciate the story of the individual & the fact that careers can be meandering journeys. #SocialMobility #Opportunity #Inclusion #PageExecutive

It could be a strait line if you do strategic planning at the initial stage and keep refining the strategy. Most people don't manage their careers. They are just leaves of trees floating on the time river of life. Recently I talk to a Project Finance Manager and he was unable to define his objectives correctly nor he wanted. Without clear objectives, constraints and preparation you get nowhere. People just want more money 💵 💷💲without assuming more responsibility. They fail to understand that financial rewards comes from careful strategic planning and career project management

Earlier this month I gave the Keynote speech for The Social Mobility Foundation's Early Careers Pilot Celebration Event at J.P. Morgan, looking back on the 2024 programme! In my speech I reflected on both my journey over the last five years, alongside reflecting on the programme itself and my key take away. The SMF has been by my side every step of the way since 2018, when my Sixth Form's new head encouraged me to apply to the Foundation's Aspiring Professionals Programme. From putting together early drafts of my CV with Conor, a civil servant working in the Department for Exiting the European Union, to university applications and finding my first job the SMF have been a great source of support. The SMF were most pivotal in December 2022, having just finished an exhausting campaign to try to become President of the Oxford Union (the world's largest debating society) on pledges to use the Union's resources for good through a schools outreach programme focused on sharing the power of debating and public speaking to disadvantaged students across the country. Through the SMF a project management internship with FINBOURNE Technology was put on my radar, which led directly into the role I work in today. The most powerful lesson from the Pilot is that theory allows you to shortcut the painful lessons others have had to learn the hard way, but practice and experience is where theory gains a richness it otherwise lacks. This applies none more so than relationship building, with a workshop on the Pilot programme focused on 'Communicating for Success' taking last month. Communication styles are key to us and no style is better than another, with each bringing their own strengths and perspectives. Some of us are more assertive in our styles, focused on the goals and actions that need to take; others are responsive, focused on the emotions and people contained within the situation. Failure to adapt is adapting to fail, to spin an old phrase – people work with people, people buy from people, and relationships and the people involved can make or break your next steps. I've seen first hand the importance of leaning in to each other's strengths, and how relationship building is pivotal to being part of a successful team. While much of the focus of social mobility programmes to now has been about finding roles (getting in), social mobility doesn't just stop the day your first job starts (getting on). While some may face barriers in the workplace, for others a workplace environment can feel alien and require support to adapt. There are also numerous soft skills and insights that can greatly enhance the working experience, which are often less focused upon in mainstream education. I'm pleased to see these challenges being recognised by the SMF, and am thankful to the SMF partner employers who have supported the Pilot programme; fingers crossed this can continue for years to come.

Social Mobility… “It’s levelling the playing field” “It’s getting a seat at the table”  “It’s about potential” “It’s about fairness” Today, on #SocialMobilityDay, we're shining a spotlight on our transformative work that is breaking down barriers and unlocking opportunities for young people across the UK ⭐ We are committed to solving the UK’s social mobility problem. 📣 It’s not acceptable that a student from a working class background who achieves a first-class degree from a top university is still less likely to secure an elite job than a more privileged student who achieves a 2.2* With our 1-to-1 support, guidance, mentorship, exclusive opportunities, we help students from lower socio-economic backgrounds navigate the complex world of graduate employment and unlock their full potential 🙌 But it's more than just career advice — it's about instilling confidence, building networks, and fostering a sense of belonging in industries where privilege has long been the norm 💡 Hear from our incredible Alumni, and staff about the impact of our programmes. Join us in celebrating Social Mobility Day! 🌟Talk about your #SocialMobility story, #ShareMoments, and support us in championing fairness, access, and the belief that everyone deserves a chance to succeed. #TransformingSocialMobility #EqualityForAll #EqualOpportunity *Social Mobility Commission, 2021.

7 years ago, the DfE had already identified that social mobility would be helped by connecting schools with workplaces. From what I've seen, there is an appetite on both sides for this to happen, but so far there are very few strong relationships between schools and local businesses. If you are a company that is interested in becoming more involved with local schools, please get in touch: [email protected]. Be part of the change that we need to see in the UK to unlock the squandered potential of so many young people. ......... DfE, 2017 "Unlocking talent, fulfilling potential: a plan for improving social mobility through education" (p. 29) Ambition 4: Everyone achieving their potential in rewarding careers. Some young people are held back because they are: • Less likely to have the right advice and guidance that can help to make the course choices to unlock their potential; this might be due to poor in-school careers provision; or it might be because they do not have the same family and peer networks that can offer knowledge and experience of how to access the most rewarding careers as those from more affluent backgrounds. • Less likely to live in an area with high concentration of employers that can help provide crucial work experience opportunities and secure employment; in London nearly half of employers offer work experience, compared to less than a third in North Yorkshire and the Humber – where there is also a far smaller concentration of employers and high skilled and professional jobs. This means that when some people enter the labour market they too often find themselves trapped in lower paying jobs – of all those low paid in 2006, by 2016 only one in six made a sustained progression onto higher wages over the ten year period.

I am pleased to share our new World Economic Forum op-ed on social mobility – a topic I care deeply about. In the op-ed, Marie Christine Padberg and I outline how European businesses can play a major role in improving social mobility.    According to the European Union, over one in five people in Europe are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Inflation and the lasting effects of the COVID pandemic have taken a disproportionate toll on low-income households in recent years. This, combined with the changing nature of work exacerbates social exclusion and the impacts of digitization and wage inequality.    Employment is the primary mechanism enabling people to improve their economic status. Moreover, it is in the interest of business to do its part to create a system in which people have scope to build and use their talents.     We highlight how companies who are making additional efforts, including paid internships, work experience programs and education reimbursement programs are seeing real, tangible results.    Social mobility is a priority focus for McKinsey. Earlier this year, we launched McKinsey Forward in Europe, a free learning program offering practical workplace skills for those just starting in their career or navigating a job change. We recently published a report examining how greater inclusion of ethnocultural minorities could fill talent gaps and spur company growth in Europe. We’ll also be publishing a further report with specific recommendations for how business leaders and policymakers can advance social mobility later this year. I hope you find it interesting: https://lnkd.in/dvM-wiEC

Reflecting on the journey, it strikes me how travel, often the only escape from the relentless pace of work for me, becomes a mirror, reflecting the true essence of our pursuits at Boundless Consulting. It's during these fleeting moments of tranquility that the core of our mission resurfaces, compelling me to question, "Are we truly making a difference? Are we leaving an indelible mark on the daunting landscape of youth unemployment, crafting pathways to not just jobs, but careers?" As we step into the fourth month of the year, it's heartening to see the fruits of our collective efforts. Thanks to our dedicated partners and the unwavering support of our sponsors, we've managed to usher over 500 young unemployed individuals into YES programs via our accredited IP partners, with a significant 85% finding their place within the Hospitality and Tourism sectors. Furthermore, 200 eager learners have embarked on ICT accredited learnerships and skills programs through our academy, Boundless Academy, with our absorption rate—a metric of youth transitioning into permanent employment—standing at a commendable 37% thus far. This year, we set our sights high, aiming to facilitate the placement of over 2000 unemployed youths across three critical sectors we operate in: Hospitality and Tourism, ICT, and the burgeoning Green Economy. This ambitious plan includes enrolling 1000 youths into accredited ICT qualifications, with a hopeful eye on a 50% absorption rate. Yet, in the grand tapestry of change, one might ponder, "Is this enough?" To this, I'm reminded of the poignant words of cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead, who said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." This quote resonates deeply, affirming our belief that every step, no matter how small, contributes to a larger journey towards transformative change. Our heartfelt gratitude extends to all our partners and corporate sponsors, including Knowles Husain Lindsay Inc , Nampak, Entelect, Mobicel South Africa, North-West University / Noordwes-Universiteit, Afrika Tikkun, youth@WORK, International Hotel School, and countless others. Your shared vision and commitment to making a meaningful impact are the bedrock of our achievements. Together, we're not just making a difference; we're sculpting a future brimming with hope, opportunity, and boundless possibilities. #YouthEmpowerment #SocialImpact #Gratitude #BoundlessJourney