Top Exeter employers expand Social Mobility programme to open up career pathways for local students
From 28 October to 1 November 2024, Exeter will host the Social Mobility Business Partnership (SMBP) Programme dedicated to creating career opportunities for students from low-income backgrounds. The programme is designed to break down barriers to social mobility by providing students with valuable work insights, resilience and workplace skills training and lifelong career support.
Since its inception in 2014, SMBP charity has grown from supporting just 20 students in London to working with over 1,000 students from all parts of the UK. Three new locations have been introduced this year including Plymouth, as well as Newport and Wrexham with plans to expand into Cornwall next year.
Over five days of the programme students from local Exeter schools and colleges will visit several leading organisations gaining exposure to different work environments through business simulation activities and skills workshops. Students will learn about career opportunities, engage in interactive tasks, and develop critical competencies, including teamwork, communication, leadership and problem-solving. They also spend time at a professional sports club where they will focus on the psychology of resilience and goal achievement.
The students will visit:
- Environmental infrastructure group Pennon Group PLC
- Professional rugby union club Exeter Chiefs and law firm Ashfords at Sandy Park Stadium
- Law firm Foot Anstey and Supacat who operate in the defence sector manufacturing vehicles that are engineered to operate in severe environments
- Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trustat Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
- Exeter University at their Streatham Campus
Alastair Nuttall, an Associate at Foot Anstey, commented:“This is our second year involved with SMBP, and it's incredibly rewarding to see the impact this programme has on the students. For Foot Anstey, it’s a chance to collaborate with other local major employers to break down barriers to a career in business for talented individuals.”
Nicky Yeoman, Head of Marketing at Supacat said: "Supacat is proud to be involved in the Social Mobility Business Partnership programme, a key part of our social values programme. This event is more than just an opportunity to showcase that a career is within everyone’s reach - It's a day that's designed to inspire students, to ignite the belief and drive them towards their career dreams. It's a day to remind students that they have the potential and the power to shape their own future."
The SMBP initiative is designed to break down the psychological barriers students may face when entering professional environments by exposing them to diverse work settings and allowing them to engage directly with business professionals. The programme also equips students with CV-enhancing corporate brand names, boosting their applications for university and future jobs.
Student feedback:
Students who participated in the 2024 SMBP programme shared overwhelmingly positive feedback:
- 99% said they now have a clearer idea of their future career goals.
- 92% stated they gained a better understanding of how businesses operate and what employers seek in candidates.
- 93% rated their understanding of career opportunities within participating organisations as “good” or “very good.”
- 93% said the programme improved their self-confidence.
A previous SMBP student Manisha Kumar said:
“SMBP is committed to continuing its mission of supporting social mobility by expanding its reach and offering life-changing opportunities to students in new areas, such as Plymouth.”
For more information about SMBP and how your organisation or school/college can get involved, please contact Jess Clarkson atjess@smbp.org.uk.
