Press Release
Grant Thornton recognised as leading employer for social mobility
16 Oct 2024
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 maintained its third-place position 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.
Recent initiatives which have contributed to the firm’s continued recognition as a top employer for Social Mobility include:
- Educational awareness sessions for its people on key topics such as accent bias, the impact of growing up in a UK cold spot area and imposter syndrome.
Advocacy and role modelling from senior leaders, including the CEO.
- Launched The Grant Thornton Foundation to support social inclusion, helping young people from disadvantaged areas overcome social barriers and support them to advance their education and enter employment.
- Continuing to enable inclusive recruitment practices and supporting trainee candidates through the application process, through measures such as:
- Unique online behavioural tests designed to reduce test anxiety for those prone to higher levels of this, by leaning into AI, assessing behaviours in real-time, and adapting accordingly to mitigate this.
- All candidates receive a coaching call prior to digital interview and are provided with in-depth feedback regardless of the outcome.
- Parent/Carer engagement calls introduced this year, are particularly helpful for school leaver trainees whose parents or carers don’t have access to professional environments. Our recruiters offer a virtual or in-person meeting with parents/carers after offer to give in-depth interview feedback and discuss opportunities in more detail.
- Grant Thornton is also a founding member of Access Accountancy, a programme which offers internships, mentoring, and professional development support to bridge the gap for talented individuals facing socio-economic barriers.
Jenn Barnett, Head of Inclusion and Diversity and ESG, Grant Thornton UK LLP, said:
"We are proud of our ongoing work in enabling opportunity and increasing access for people from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Out data-driven approach, inclusive recruitment practices and partnerships with organisations such as RISE, the Social Mobility Foundation and One Million Mentors, among others, help to drive meaningful change and move towards a level playing field for all.
“We are particularly proud of the launch of The Grant Thornton Foundation this year; with a focus on social inclusion and enabling access to employment for young people from underprivileged backgrounds. We won’t stop there, we have plans to do more and do better in 2025, with a renewed focus on coaching for young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Plans include engaging our people through tea breaks; linking senior leaders with more junior people in the firm from lower socioeconomic backgrounds to discuss barriers that exist in both policy and confidence; and utilising our socioeconomic data to drive further action in our business.”
Ends
