Social Mobility Foundation programme boosts yearly earnings by over £5,000, DWP research finds
Young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds who completed a Social Mobility Foundation programme saw significant improvements in their future earnings, their chances of getting into Russell Group universities and their odds of being in employment.
That’s according to new analysis by the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Employment Data Lab. They compared students who completed the charity’s programme with a group that was carefully matched based on GCSE grades, socioeconomic background, ethnicity, sex, subject choice and more.
Participants in the programme saw a significant boost in earnings which grew over time compared with their peers. They earned an average of £300 more per year after year 4, £2,400 after year 7 and £5,400 10 years after starting.
The Aspiring Professionals Programme is aimed at 16-24 year olds who are from working-class, low-income or care-experienced backgrounds, or are the first generation in their family to go to university. It includes skills and careers workshops, professional mentoring, work experience and support with applying to university.
Those who took part were 11% more likely to get into a Russell Group university and 9% more likely to obtain a degree from one within 7 years of beginning the programme. And they were 3% more likely to be employed 5 years after starting.
Sarah Atkinson, Chief Executive of the Social Mobility Foundation, said:
“This research is further proof of what we already knew: that with the right support, young people of all backgrounds can flourish. It’s a testament to the commitment, generosity and diligent work of our staff, volunteers and funders that we’ve welcomed tens of thousands of students onto our programme over the last 20 years.
“But inequality isn’t going anywhere, and young people badly need our support to navigate a highly unequal system. We’re committed to building on this success and making opportunity a reality for more of our young people.”
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