Workplaces that are inclusive of people from less affluent backgrounds undoubtedly have an advantage. Socioeconomically diverse businesses have better employee wellbeing, increased productivity and improved employee retention, according to the Social Mobility Commission. But despite this, only 12% of apprenticeship places are currently filled by people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
That’s because people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face a number of barriers to a higher skilled career, such as concerns about the risks and costs of a degree, a lack of information, or home responsibilities that take precedence over career advancement. To reach this pool of potential talent and build an eager and diverse modern workforce, businesses need to take a targeted approach. A popular way to do this is to form partnerships with apprenticeship providers such as the University of Greenwich.
