Empowering social mobility through our work experience programme
A key focus for us is empowering future generations by providing new opportunities.”
Chris Jones
Chief Executive Officer, BMJ Group
Our vision of creating a healthier world is evident in our collaborative efforts to design and implement projects that enhance community wellbeing. We strive to make a difference across all the communities we serve worldwide.
A key focus for us is empowering future generations by providing new opportunities. This year, we took action to address social mobility disparities. A conversation with a school career counsellor highlighted the widening gap in the UK between middle-class students with access to enriching work experiences
and those from disadvantaged backgrounds who miss out.
To bridge this gap, we partnered with local schools to offer work experience placements exclusively for 55 students on free school meals. This initiative is a cornerstone of our social mobility agenda, reflecting our commitment to fostering social equity and career development.
Investing in students’ potential
Our new work experience programme is a robust initiative that supports minority individuals and contributes to societal efforts to promote equity and inclusion. Participants in our programme gain practical insights into various workplace skills, enhance their career prospects, and build their interpersonal skills. Exposing students to professional environments makes these settings more accessible and less intimidating, fostering a sense of belonging.
The programme builds community partnerships with local schools, ensuring that it reaches those who need it most and maximises student development. Unlike traditional human resource efforts, our initiative reflects our deep commitment to addressing educational inequalities. It does this by providing valuable work experience in a way that also actively promotes social mobility. Our work experience programme helps to differentiate BMJ Group from other organisations, demonstrating our dedication to creating meaningful and lasting change.
Investing in these students’ potential paves the way for a more equitable society. We set a precedent for other organisations and showcase how targeted initiatives can drive broader social transformation.
