This year we’re taking our mission to ensure that talent from all social backgrounds is nurtured, harnessed, and rewarded to the party conferences.

By Sarah Atkinson

The leaves are falling, the nights are drawing in, which must mean that party conference season is upon us. This year I will be attending both the Conservative and Labour Party Conferences along with Beccy Forrow , Chloe Wheeler and Melissa Aitchison from our Advocacy and Campaigns team.

I have attended party conferences many times before, but this will be the first time for the Foundation and our campaigns team. I’m proud that we’re also bringing a young person with lived experience of social mobility, Aimee Shields , who will join me on a panel event about the opportunity mission at the Labour Party Conference.

Going to the party conferences is an exciting opportunity for us. We’re keen to listen, learn, network, and share our vision for a world where your background doesn’t dictate your future.

We’ve got insights from:

Our Aspiring Professionals Programme , which supports 2,000 young people every year.

Our Social Mobility Employer Index , which is the authority on employer-led social mobility.

Our Unheard Voices research, which highlights key areas that should be in manifestoes and on the political agenda ahead of the upcoming general election.

I know the team are keen to hone their networking skills and speak to new people about what we do.

This is our opportunity to raise our profile amongst key audiences both across the political spectrum and employers who are thinking about starting their social mobility journey.

We know from our campaigning work that improving social mobility has never been so important. The IFS recently reported that intergenerational social mobility is at its lowest for 50 years.

The attainment gap between young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and higher socioeconomic backgrounds is widening.

Not only this, employees from working-class backgrounds are paid ￡6,718 a year less than those from a higher socioeconomic background even when they are doing the same job.

Policymakers have the power to shape the future and make a positive impact on society. We’d like them to focus on creating a world where talent from all social backgrounds is nurtured, harnessed and rewarded.

If you are already part of the conversation or would like to join in, look out for us in Manchester and Liverpool.