University of Northampton: Making a Social Impact
The University of Northampton unveiled a new action plan to increase access to career opportunities in Northampton, in partnership with former Secretary of State for Education, Rt Hon Justine Greening.
The plan sets out a series of ambitions that the University of Northampton will work towards in the wake of Covid-19 with the aim of ensuring that more people are able to progress in careers, unhindered by their background or lack of connections.
The University of Northampton is one of a pioneering group of UK businesses and universities aiming to set a new and higher standard on boosting social mobility in Britain, with boardroom focus on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues.
The University of Northampton was among the early signatories to the Social Mobility Pledge, cofounded by Justine Greening in 2018, after she left the Government, alongside UK entrepreneur David Harrison, chair of the Harrison Centre for Social Mobility.
The Social Mobility Pledge asks businesses and universities to commit to levelling up Britain by partnering with local schools, offering apprenticeships and using open and fair recruitment practices.
More than 550 organisations representing over 7 million people have now signed the Social Mobility Pledge.
The launch of the University of Northampton’s Opportunity Action Plan, entitled ‘Making a Social Impact’, is the culmination of months of work with the Social Mobility Pledge team, who identified the University of Northampton as a trail blazer in social mobility.
University of Northampton Vice Chancellor Professor Nick Petford said: “We face urgent challenges as a society, and now the additional pressures resulting from the pandemic requires a unified response that will benefit those who need it most.
“As a university dedicated to social innovation and purpose-led change, we have a vital role to play in addressing these agendas – and we are proud to demonstrate our commitment by signing the Social Mobility Pledge.”
Rotherham-born Ms Greening herself benefited from social mobility, becoming the first Secretary of State for Education to have gone to a comprehensive school and local FE college.
Justine Greening said: “True social mobility in Britain has been lacking for far too long. Levelling up our country is a challenge that needs a national effort and it’s one that businesses and universities are rising to. Social mobility happens on the ground in schools, universities and workplaces so they all have a vital role to play and can be an incredible force for good in spreading opportunities more evenly across communities to people who have missed out for far too long.
“Over the past year we have seen the Covid-19 crisis fundamentally change the relationship between universities and their students, who expect them to be much more active on social purpose. By publishing this action plan, the University of Northampton is committing to play its part in levelling up Britain and is raising the standard of the environment, social and corporate governance agenda. I look forward to working closely with them in the important months ahead for our country.
“I’d encourage many more universitiesto follow the University of Northampton’s example and consider how they can go further, faster to make Britain a high skilled, high knowledge economy.“