One of the defining themes throughout my career has been a deep commitment to improving access to opportunity and using employment as a driver of social mobility. Over time, I became increasingly aware that while many organisations were taking positive action in this space, efforts were often fragmented, disconnected and lacking a collective voice capable of driving broader systemic change.
This realisation led me to found the Social Mobility Leaders’ Forum (SMLF) in September 2024.
The vision for the Forum was clear from the outset: to create a collaborative, cross-sector community focused on improving representation and access to meaningful careers for individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Rather than operating as another standalone initiative, the ambition was to convene organisations and individuals from across the social mobility ecosystem to work together in a more connected, practical and action-oriented way.
What makes the Forum distinctive is the breadth of stakeholders it brings together. The SMLF was intentionally designed to convene employers, charities, social enterprises, educators and policy makers, recognising that no single organisation or sector can solve social mobility challenges alone. By creating space for these groups to collaborate, share insight and build partnerships, the Forum aims to accelerate collective impact and drive more sustainable change.
While still relatively new, the Forum has built significant momentum in a short period of time, growing into a strong and engaged community of members united by a shared commitment to improving social mobility outcomes. It has become a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing and practical action, enabling organisations to learn from one another and work together on common challenges.
A key area of focus for the Forum has been moving conversations beyond awareness and intent towards tangible action and measurable impact. This includes creating opportunities for employers and community organisations to connect directly, amplifying the voices and experiences of young people and underrepresented communities, and encouraging organisations to think differently about talent, progression and access to opportunity.
The Forum has already facilitated a number of collaborative initiatives and discussions, including cross-sector roundtables, employer engagement activities, youth voice sessions and Social Mobility Day partnerships. Through this work, the SMLF has helped build stronger relationships between organisations that may not otherwise have connected, while also creating greater visibility for charities and social enterprises working directly with underserved communities.
Alongside building the Forum itself, I remain passionate about ensuring social mobility is recognised not simply as a social issue, but as a workforce, skills and economic issue that requires long-term collaboration and commitment. I strongly believe that talent exists in every community, but opportunity does not, and that organisations have both a responsibility and a significant opportunity to help change this.
The Social Mobility Leaders’ Forum represents an important step towards creating a more joined-up and action-focused movement around social mobility. While we are still early in our journey, the growth of the community and the level of engagement we have already seen demonstrates the appetite for collaboration and collective action in this space.
Paul Modley – Chair of Social Mobility Leaders’ Forum and Managing Director of DEIB at AMS
