18 January 2010
million+ comment on Government plans to boost social mobility
Commenting on the Government’s response to Unleashing Aspiration, the final report from the Panel on Fair Access to the Professions, the university think-tank million+ has welcomed the proposals to establish a UK Professional Forum to be led by Government HE Minister David Lammy. The Forum is among a number of commitments given by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown and Pat McFadden MP, Minister of State for Business, Innovations and Skills, in response to the Fair Access to the Professions Report. Other actions include the establishment of a Social Mobility Commission to be based in the Cabinet Office.
Professor Les Ebdon, Chair of million+ and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire said: “I welcome the establishment of the UK Professional Forum and Social Mobility Commission. We need action to persuade employers and the professions that many current recruitment practices restrict opportunities for well-qualified students from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Social mobility is about having opportunities to move into higher status occupations. Modern universities continue to deliver this. The biggest threat to social mobility currently lies in the mismatch between demand for university places and the funding available for additional student numbers. This needs to be resolved if Labour is serious about continuing to promote social mobility in a recession.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- million+ is a leading university think-tank, working to solve the complex problems in higher education www.millionplus.ac.uk
- Unleashing Aspiration: The Government Response to the Final Report of the Panel on Fair Access to the Professions can be downloaded at: www.bis.gov.uk/unleashing-aspiration-response-published
- For more information, comment or interviews please contact Victoria Mills on 0207 7171655 or 07900 277819