News and Stories
The latest articles
Nadeem
I am 22 years old, from West London and a recent Business Management graduate from the University of Westminster. So far, all my work experience has been retail-based and I’ve never stepped into an office with a suit on, which has always been a dream of mine. I have...
Jawan
It all started when I decided to change my career path. I’d always assumed I’d be working within the scientific field - it was my main focus from school to college and then studying Microbiology at the University of Surrey. Alongside this I had multiple creative...
UK Social Mobility Awards Announce 2019 Finalists
Shortlist of progressive organisations and individuals announced across 11 categories for the UK Social Mobility Awards. The third iteration of the UK Social Mobility Awards have received an incredible response with the recently announced shortlist containing 57...
Chela
I had a typical upbringing in south-east London – I went to a comprehensive school and then studied Psychology and Drama at Northampton University, graduating in 2017. When I finished university I was struggling to decide what I wanted to do. I worked for an...
If nobody knows about your social mobility initiative, did it really happen?
As business practices shift - becoming more globalised, flexible and, to an extent, less hierarchical – the benefits of organisations embracing social mobility become more pronounced. For example, research has shown that cognitive diversity is essential for avoiding...
Abdi
Fresh from graduating University in 2018 I enthusiastically began the process of looking for employment but soon reached a stumbling block in the application process. I would send lots of applications for different jobs in the hope that one would eventually stick and...
Ajun
After graduating from university with an average grade I felt really demotivated and lost. I thought I would have to start from scratch and go back to university, which was not financially feasible, to progress my career. I felt like the only options available to me...
Hana
Growing up, I did not have a particular profession that I wanted to work in. I enjoyed science the most and decided to pick Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths at A Level. However, as much I was interested in these subjects, I just couldn’t imagine myself working in...
Fellows learn about private markets at StepStone Scholar Programme
On Thursday, 18th April, 11 Making The Leap Fellows attended a corporate experience day at private markets company, StepStone. The day-long forum, held in their London office, gave young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds an opportunity to learn about...
Frankie
I always wanted to work backstage in a theatre and hoped that I could progress my career in that industry, but before coming to Making The Leap I was not at all confident about getting a job. I was unemployed for almost two years and it was a very depressing time in...
Raising career aspirations for students from Westminister Academy
In the last two weeks of March we facilitated a work experience programme at our Kensal Green hub, Harriet Tubman House, for 12 year 10 students from Westminister Academy, exposing them to an array of experiences and opportunities that would prepare them for life...
Abdul
Before coming to Making The Leap I was struggling to find a job in my chosen field, despite having a bachelor’s degree in Computer Networking with a 2:1 grade. I was introduced to Making The Leap, a social mobility charity that emphasises the importance of developing...
Key takeaways from the Social Mobility Business Seminar
On Tuesday, 19th March at the Law Society in Central London, executives from across business and government gathered together for the Social Mobility Business Seminar, sponsored by Milkround. The seminar presented a crucial opportunity for organisations to discuss...
Eric
I graduated university with a lower second class honour - not quite what I had planned for. A module in my final exams caught me off guard and I guess I wasn’t as prepared as I thought I was, bringing the average down. Missing out on my target by less than two...
What to look forward to at the Social Mobility Business Seminar
A Social Mobility Business Seminar, sponsored by Milkround, will be held in Central London on Tuesday 19th March to officially launch the UK Social Mobility Awards 2019, in association with Capita. The keynote speaker will be Nadhim Zahawi MP, Parliamentary...
Joëlle
I had my mind set on being a dentist from the age of 12. I have tunnel-vision when I want something so, as far as I was concerned that was my career path. However, I didn’t get the A Levels needed to do dentistry, which left me deflated and unsure where to turn....
Renewed partnership helps young people develop their employment-related skills – Thank you HSBC
We are delighted to announce our continued partnership with HSBC, whose funding will enable us to support 2,000 school children in secondary schools across London over the next two years through our Employability, Character and Soft Skills Programme. HSBC’s...
My Social Mobility Story: Jonathan Andrews, ‘Rising Star of the Year’ at the UK Social Mobility Awards 2018
We kick off our series of UK Social Mobility Awards 2018 winners’ interviews with ‘Rising Star of the Year’, Jonathan Andrews. Born in Bromley in the 1990’s to an IT worker and a secretary, Jonathan was diagnosed with autism at the age of nine. His journey since then...