We recognise that boosting social mobility isn’t just about our own internal business practices, but how we support our local communities too. As part of our social mobility community programme, we work with disadvantaged school students, undergraduates and other social mobility beneficiary groups (such as refugees and our PwC Social Entrepreneurs Club members) to:
- help them make the most of their potential
- develop skills and employability prospects
- support, empower and inspire them to achieve positive employment outcomes in their career of choice
- remove barriers to access, creating equality of opportunity and actively encouraging diversity and social mobility.
Below are some examples of the activities we have taken to the support community. To find out more please visit our website.
Bradford Opportunity Area Programme – PwC are a Cornerstone Employer for the Bradford Opportunity Area. We have opened a new office in Bradford, providing jobs and apprenticeships in the city. Over 135 members of PwC staff are currently based in the new office, with plans to grow further, and are from a variety of backgrounds with a variety of different experiences. We work alongside the Enterprise in Education team at West Yorkshire Combined Authority, PwC’s Social Mobility team have devised a dynamic and engaging offering to 44 Bradford secondary schools and colleges.
School Activities – We work with students from disadvantaged schools in England & Wales, Northern Ireland and in Scotland, covering technology, financial literacy, employability skills and wellbeing. We offer a range of activities in schools, our offices and virtually.
Online Toolkit – Our Online Toolkit has been created for teachers and careers professionals, enabling them to choose from a wide selection of lessons and deliver them quickly and easily to a class or group of students. The toolkit includes a number of programmes on technology, financial literacy, and wellbeing with more curricula being added in the coming months. Each lesson pack comes with a lesson plan, a facilitator guide and a presentation.
Social mobility network – Our social mobility network brings together a community of like-minded individuals, from around the firm, who are passionate about social mobility. They help to organise and coordinate our work in this area – driving activities in their local regions and business units and sourcing volunteers to help deliver the programmes, as well as taking part themselves.
Refugees – We’re committed to supporting refugees and survivors of modern day slavery, as they rebuild their lives in the UK. Through our social mobility community programme, our people volunteer with these groups through partner organisations, such as charities and local councils. We aim to equip people with employability skills and boost their confidence through activities. Recently collaborating with the Refugee Council UK to run an Employability Skills Virtual Programme for Refugees.
The Pledge – We have outlined our support for supporting social mobility across the UK by becoming a signatory to the Social Mobility Pledge, an organisation committed to tackling social mobility, and sharing best practice. • Brigade – We also have our own social enterprise, Brigade, which supports those who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, into a career in the catering industry.