I was concerned to see the headlines this morning about the huge inequality in GCSE results this year. Not only have the results shown increased regional disparities, but they have also shown that selective and private schools are continuing to maintain the highest percentage of top grades.

Where someone grows up can have a huge impact on their future opportunities. It can determine what school they are able to attend and whether they even have access to suitable education options. It can also influence whether they have access to the technology and space they need in order to study (which will have had a big impact during the pandemic) and whether they are able to participate in extra-curricular activities that might increase their confidence and their network.

The sad thing is that regional inequality is nothing new. I read this morning that data published by the Institute For Fiscal Studies suggests there has been barely any change in the attainment gap between wealthy and disadvantaged students at GCSE level for 20 years.

I would urge the Government to consider these results in light of their levelling up strategy. However, in my view, the issues are not going to be resolved by the Government alone. If employers want to attract the best talent and benefit from diversity of thought in their businesses, then they too have a responsibility to use their resources to drive change through corporate social responsibility and outreach. There are lots of employers already doing great things in this space and lots of charities out there who are looking for partnerships (Leadership through Sport and Business, the Ahead Partnership and the Social Mobility Foundation to name just a few).

I am always happy to share ideas and good practice I have encountered and to connect with employers who want to help. You can also download a copy of our free Social Mobility Toolkit which contains some practical resources to help get you started.