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Levelling the Playing Field: A Social Mobility Speaker Series

Date: 13th September 2024

Location: Virtual

A speaker series from the Diversity Project, Progress Together, and the Social Mobility Foundation, which will launch and support the Diversity Project’s Social Mobility Toolkit and promote the benefits of addressing socio-economic diversity and social mobility.

We know from the DP’s last annual Goals and Progress tool that much more needs to be done by member firms on social mobility. The intention is for this series to help member firms to ‘move the dial’ in making progress on social mobility within their own organisations. While the series should raise awareness and provide inspiration, it is also grounded in the practical – helping attendees to benefit from the insights and experiences of those who have been successful, and providing actionable things that attendees can implement in their own firms. Success to us will be a meaningful improvement in the 2025 annual Goals and Progress statistics for Social Mobility.

If you are interested in attending any of the sessions in the Social Mobility Speaker Series, please register here

Register today and join us for this important event.

Series Agenda

Social Mobility Day: Why social mobility matters for financial services and why it should matter to you

Launch session: Why social mobility matters for financial services and why it should matter to you

At this hybrid event, kindly hosted by HSBC Asset Management, our Social Mobility workstream announced the launch of the Social Mobility toolkit, as well as introduced the ‘Levelling the Playing Field’ speaker series (a partnership between the Diversity Project, Progress Together and Social Mobility Foundation).

We discussed why social mobility is a significant issue for our industry, and how organisations can best break the issue down, whilst offering a practical approach to implementing strategies and what the benefits can be.

We had the opportunity to hear the lived experience from apprentices who have benefited from such initiatives and who have #ShareMoments with the audience, to show the ultimate impact of what we are striving for.

Date: 13th June 2024 Time: 4:30pm-6:00pm Location: Hybrid

Helena Morrissey, Chair, Diversity Project

David Aujla, Co-lead, Social Mobility Workstream

Alderman Vincent Keaveny CBE, Former Lord Mayor of London

Stuart White, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Asset Management (UK)

James Whiteman, Co-lead, Social Mobility Workstream

Rachel Allan, Co-lead, Social Mobility workstream

Ashleigh Cowie, Head of Video, Schroders

Lisa McGee, Research Associate, Newton Investment Management

Harleen Panesar , HSBC Asset Management Degree-Apprentice

Rahim Hussain, upReach Alumni

Jasvir Virk , Global Head of Family Office Solutions, HSBC Asset Management

What can we learn from professional services?

Professional services firms have made significant strides (and been very vocal) on social mobility in recent years. This is demonstrated by their prominence in the Social Mobility Foundation’s Employers’ Index. This session will help DP members understand how they moved the dial. Aimed at ALL, but particularly HR/DEI and C-Suite.

Date: September 2024 Time: TBC Location: Virtual (on Zoom)

Ian Elliott, Chief People Officer and Executive Board Member, Pwc

Jenny Baskerville, Head of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, KPMG UK

Sarah Atkinson, Chief Executive Officer, The Social Mobility Foundation

CIO Roundtable: Why is social mobility important for investment teams?

Our industry is focused in delivering good investment outcomes, and its successes rely heavily on its people. This session outlines why having a diverse investment team can lead to better culture and decision making. More speakers to be announced closer to the date.

Date: October 2024 Time: TBC Location: Virtual (on Zoom)

Stephanie Butcher, Co-Head of Investments, Invesco

Paras Anand, CIO, Artemis

Stay Down: Talent, Progression and the Class Pay Gap

Sophie Hulme, Sarah Atkinson, Helena Morrissey. A hybrid showing of the ‘Stay Down’ film from the Social Mobility Foundation, followed by a panel discussing some of the key stages of employee lifecycle in the context of social mobility. Aimed at ALL. Ideally show this on Class Pay Gap day, even if we have to move it higher in the order.

Date: Class Pay Gap Date, November 2024 Time: TBC Location: Hybrid (Venue TBC)

Sophie Hulme, Chief Executive Officer, Progress Together

Sarah Atkinson, Chief Executive Officer, The Social Mobility Foundation

Helena Morrissey, Chair, Diversity Project

The Commercial Case for Social Mobility: How asset owners and regulators could hold the key

The academic evidence for the business case for diversity is arguably mixed, but is there a more pressing issue. Is there a risk that investment firms will be unable to participate commercially in future? In this session we explore forthcoming regulation and the changing attitudes of asset owners and gatekeepers and how these can be both an opportunity and threat. Aimed at ALL, especially distribution roles and C-Suite. More speakers to be announced closer to the date.

Date: January 2025 Time: TBC Location: Virtual (on Zoom)

Steve Waygood, Chief Responsible Officer, Aviva Investors

Helen Price, Director of Governance, Co-chair Asset Owner Diversity Working Group, Church of England Pensions Board

Driving social mobility within your firms: Setting up and running an ERG

Internal engagement is one of the most powerful drivers of successfully addressing social mobility in the workplace. Employee Resource Groups have been successful in driving engagement. But how do we set up and manage an ERG? This session brings together people who have successfully done so and allows DP members to learn from their successes and mistakes! Aimed at ALL, especially DE&I, HR/Talent. More speakers to be announced closer to the time.

Date: March 2025 Time: TBC Location: Virtual (on Zoom)

Ashleigh Cowie, Head of Video and head of Social Mobility ERG, Schroders

Monique King, Head of Risk, Julius Baer

The Apprentice – is there an alternative route for developing talent in financial services?

The cost of going to university is higher now that it has been for decades, increasing the likelihood that candidates from lower socio-economic backgrounds will not be able or inclined to attend. Some firms have addressed this by launching apprenticeships. This session will help DP member firms understand how they have done it, lessons learned and best practices. Aimed ALL but particularly at HR/DEI/Talent.

Date: April / May 2025 Time: TBC Location: Virtual (on Zoom)

Jas Virk, Global Head of Family Office Solutions, HSBC Asset Management

Nicola Kirkham, EMEA Head of Early Careers and Global Contingent Force, BlackRock