'Britains got talent' - Milburn says 'let's unlock it'

CABINET OFFICE News Release (CAB039/09) issued by COI News Distribution Service on 15 May 2009

The Access to Professions Panel, led by Rt Hon Alan Milburn MP has today challenged professions to open their doors so a top career is open to people regardless of their social background.

The Panel published new figures showing how Britain is divided when it comes to getting a professional career. In the North East England only one-third of the workforce are in professional or managerial jobs while in London it is over one-half. Experts estimate that by 2020 professional employment will be the fastest growing sector of the British economy with up to 7 million more professional jobs. But today's figures show professional opportunities vary widely across the country. That divide could widen unless action is taken to address it.

This comes as the Panel's second report is published, highlighting best practice initiatives aimed at encouraging more young people to pursue a professional career. The Fair Access: Good Practice report summarises the views and suggestions of over 120 organisations and professional bodies from across more than 40 sectors on how Government and the professions could provide real opportunities to help people to get better jobs and better their prospects. Ideas have been submitted to the Panel on how employers can tap in and develop this generation's talent.

Commenting on the evidence and suggestions received by the Panel, the Rt. Hon. Alan Milburn MP said:

"Our earlier research showed professions have become more socially exclusive. Britain can't succeed as a closed shop society. I have been listening first-hand to both young people and experts about how we can help more people pursue a professional career. Britain's got talent - it's time to unlock it."

"These new figures show that more needs to be done to make sure that young people in every part of the country who have the aptitude and ability to do so get the chance to pursue a professional career. Without action the risk is that Britain becomes more socially divided."

"Thankfully nearly every profession wants to do more to open its doors to the best people. The evidence my Panel has received has unearthed countless ways that professions are working to spot talented people and develop them, regardless of the background they come from. As professional employment grows in the years to come they will need to do more still to make sure that people with aspiration and ability get a fair crack of the whip. Our report lays down a challenge to all the professions, as well as employers and the Government to now go further and faster in breaking down the practical barriers that stand in the way of talented young people across the country being able to realise their aspirations."

The case studies highlighted in the Good Practice report demonstrate how to provide young people with the knowledge, skills and practical experience they need for a high achieving professional career. They also show how professions and employers are making great steps towards fairer recruitment policies and greater flexible entry and progression routes into top jobs. Examples of proven initiatives from the report include:

* Schools: Morpeth School in East London has developed a strong alumni base for their school, where former students go back to talk to students about university and give career advice. The school organises visits for parents to universities and keeps in touch with students until aged 25 to help them manage the transition to university. Of 35 students from families with no history of higher education, who started the programme in year 9, 21 went on to university.

* Universities: Pathways into the Professions is a scheme run by Edinburgh University to encourage children from local state schools into Law, Medicine, Veterinary Science and Architecture through advice and support on university applications and information sessions for parents. The programme runs across all 46 schools in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

* Employers: IntoUniversity (a corporately funded programme) works with children from the age of seven who have academic potential but are at risk of underachieving. Students receive long-term academic support and personal development through mentoring with undergraduates and aspirational training courses.

* Professions: the Engineering Council UK accredit engineers through a range of professional entry routes. There are different qualification routes for each and engineers can progress from one to another. There are no fixed accredited courses and many engineers are self taught.
The Panel's stakeholder consultation also highlighted gaps where more can be done to improve the pathways of entry into a high-status career. The Fair Access Panel will continue to examine these barriers and form their final recommendations upon these issues:
1. Knowledge, information and aspiration: A lack of understanding and information on professional roles and the need for mentoring, outreach and professional role models.

2. Education and talent development pathways: competition for university places has led to more importance being placed on softer skills - a requirement that often favours young people from higher socio-economic backgrounds.

3. Practical experience and managing risks: Practical experience is increasingly important to securing a professional job but costs associated with longer-term internships can be prohibitive.

4. Fair Selection processes and policies: Some professions still lack structured recruitment processes

5. Flexible routes for entry and progression: The graduate route is still the most common route into the professions and recruitment techniques can be narrow in outlook and restrictive in format, edging out young people from less well-off backgrounds.