We Chat with Jessica Clarkson, Managing Director of the Social Mobility Business Partnership.

Why It Matters

SMBP addresses talent pipeline and diversity gaps by broadening access to professional careers and reducing information asymmetry at a pivotal decision point for young people, which can increase social mobility and expand employer access to diverse candidates. Employer and volunteer participation scales the programme’s impact and feeds a more inclusive future workforce.

Summary

Jessica Clarkson, managing director of the Social Mobility Business Partnership (SMBP), described the charity’s work opening up career pathways for students from less advantaged backgrounds through immersive business simulation weeks, mentoring, webinars and resilience training. SMBP exposes participants to multiple industries—law being a common choice—and reports that about 44% of students change their career aspirations after a week of hands-on experience. The programme aims to dismantle psychological barriers to professional careers and equip young people with the information and skills to choose between university, apprenticeships or work. Clarkson invited individuals and organisations to get involved via volunteering, delivering employer insight sessions or hosting resilience training, directing interested parties to smbp.org.uk or [e-mail].

Original Description

Outside of the law firm technology conversation, we also chatted on camera with Jessica Clarkson, managing director of the Social Mobility Business Partnership, a volunteer-led charity that brings together 180 commercial organisations and firms to provide opportunities to students from low income backgrounds. Clarkson spoke at Uncorking Innovation about the ways that organisations can support the charity, and this video gives you just a snippet of what they do and how and why you can get involved.  

SMBT was founded by Barry Matthews, who is group deputy general counsel of Pennon Group. Barry was previously at ITV, where he worked with Clarkson, who was a senior account management executive.