News release
Grant Thornton recognised as top employer for social mobility
31 Oct 2023
Leading business and financial adviser Grant Thornton UK LLP is delighted to announce that it has been recognised as a top employer in this year’s Social Mobility Employer Index, the leading authority on employer-led social mobility, in recognition of its continued commitment to the agenda.
This year, the firm has ranked third in the Index. Grant Thornton has prioritised social mobility for many years, which has seen the firm consistently being placed in the top 10 since the Index launched in 2017. The firm’s leading approach to social mobility remains data driven, focusing on identifying and removing barriers to entry and progression for those from low socio-economic backgrounds.
The annual Index, compiled by the Social Mobility Foundation, assesses UK employers across seven key areas including working with young people, routes into the firm, attraction of talent, recruitment and selection, data collection, progression of employees and experienced hires, and advocacy.
Measures taken by Grant Thornton that contributed to the recognition include:
- using social mobility cold spots in England to target outreach work, reaching young people in areas where the need for support is highest
- providing support and coaching for young people through a range of schemes such as Access Accountancy, RISE and the Amos Bursary
- offering different entry routes into the organisation for people of all backgrounds with an increased focus on school leavers and apprenticeships
- collecting socio-economic data not only at recruitment stage but also analysing progression data in the firm by socioeconomic background
- strong advocacy across the firm at senior levels, with accountability for the firm’s approach to social mobility sitting at board level and ongoing engagement with clients to raise awareness of the issue.
Commenting on the accolade, Jenn Barnett, Head of Inclusion and Diversity and ESG, Grant Thornton UK LLP, said:
"As part of our firm’s ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive environment to grow, we continue to advance our efforts in making opportunities accessible to people from low socio-economic backgrounds and removing potential barriers to progression.
“Inclusion and diversity in our firm is more important than ever and we are proud to see our efforts continue to pay off. We have focused on improving social mobility in the firm, and wider profession, for many years and it’s encouraging to see this recognised. Our work in this space is enriching our firm, our industry and equipping us to engage our clients in meaningful conversations about how they can also accelerate their social impact."
Read more about social mobility at Grant Thornton →
