FDM Group has today been ranked 56th in the Social Mobility Employer Index 2020, the leading authority on employer best practice, for demonstrating commitment to social mobility in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Index was created by the Social Mobility Foundation in 2017 and ranks UK’s employers on the action they take to ensure they are open to and progressing talent from all backgrounds. It highlights the employers who are doing the most to change how they find, recruit, and advance talented employees from different social class backgrounds. Now in its fourth year the Employer Index is the definitive benchmark of organisations committed to improving social mobility in the workplace.
Employers are assessed across seven key areas, these include their work with young people, routes into the company, how they attract talent, recruitment and selection, data collection, progression, experienced hires, and advocacy.
FDM Group has been named amongst the top 75 employers in the Social Mobility Employer Index, for the work we have done to tackle this issue, ensuring we enable those from lower socio-economic backgrounds to succeed. Measures taken to improve social mobility over 2020, include: our attraction and recruitment process which is focused on strengths based not competency assessment, our work with Universities across the UK to identify talent and our commitment to inspiring the next generation with our schools partnerships delivering meaningful world of work sessions for students.
This year saw 119 employers from 17 sectors, who collectively employ almost one million people in the UK, answer around 100 questions. In addition to the employers’ responses, over 14,000 employees also took part in a voluntary employee survey.
Rod Flavell, Chief Executive Officer, FDM Group, said:
“2020 has been an incredibly difficult year for many businesses, with the global pandemic and economic disruption affecting the lives of millions of workers. Despite these challenges, FDM Group is proud to be listed in the Social Mobility Employer Index, in recognition of our commitment to inclusion and creating opportunity for our people. During these challenging times it is critical that all organisations continue to support social mobility, working hard to level the playing field and enable everyone to thrive. Above all, the technology industry can only continue to innovate if it can draw on the skills, ideas and talents of people from all walks of life, and FDM will continue to support these important initiatives despite the disruption.
Sarah Atkinson, chief executive of the Social Mobility Foundation, said:
“I am delighted that FDM Group committed to entering the Index this year despite the challenges they have faced in the wake of the pandemic. Now more than ever, we need to see business play their part in the levelling up agenda.”
The Rt. Hon. Alan Milburn, chair of the Social Mobility Foundation, added:
“As the Covid-19 crisis continues and the UK descends into a sharp recession, more will need to be done to avoid a job catastrophe, for young people particularly. Already 60% of the jobs that have been lost since the pandemic began have been among 18-24 year olds.
I urge those sectors of our economy that are not represented in this year’s Index to participate in 2021 and commit to joining the ranks of those employers who are already making such a difference to young people’s life chances.”
