The Value of Qualifications

Can devolution be a game changer for social mobility?Social Mobility Commission Chair Alun Francis is joined by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham to discuss his vision for Greater Manchester Combined Authority and his call for more radical devolution across the county to support local solutions which deliver growth and opportunity.Greater Manchester is one of the country's most successful city-regions. Home to nearly 3 million people and with an economy bigger than that of Wales or Northern Ireland. Since the election of Andy Burnham as its first metro-mayor in 2017 Greater Manchester Combined Authority has been hailed as a the trailblazer of English devolution, with wide ranging powers including transport, business support, employment and skills and housing investment, leading some to refer to Burnham as “King of the North”.In this episode, Andy and Alun discuss:- What the other parts of the country can learn from Manchester’s success.- Combating the lasting legacy of deindustrialisation.- Why Andy is so passionate about creating opportunities for the "kids without connections."

Right now only 1 in 4 tech workers are women and just 9% are from a low socio-economic background.  What does it mean when the sector shaping the future doesn’t reflect society?In this episode of Social Mobility Talks, Resham Kotecha sits down with Claire Thorne, co-CEO of social mobility charity Tech She Can, to discuss why representation in tech is about more than just fairness, it is about creating a world that works for everyone.From tackling gender stereotypes in early years education to the "triple disadvantage" faced by girls from low socio-economic backgrounds, Claire shares insights on how we can inspire the next generation of tech leaders.Resham and Claire explore why 1 in 3 women are planning to leave the tech industry and how "place-based" solutions are essential for reaching underserved communities across the UK.

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 > State of the Nation 2024 - https://shorturl.at/ZJN9W> Innovation Generation - https://shorturl.at/1jphz> Social mobility and the economy: are they two sides of the same coin? - https://shorturl.at/Esy8r

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.