On August 10th TG Consulting hosted our first ever student and graduate-led webinar to address candidly issues surrounding ethnicity, in light of the Black Lives Matter movement and social mobility, in light of Covid-19.
RE:Action: An Audience with The Covid-19 Class of 2020, was in association with Leadership Through Sport and Business, a social mobility charity that prepares and supports bright young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into meaningful roles in accounting and technology with major firms.
We were absolutely delighted to have our seven esteemed panellists lead the conversation in support of our new RE:Action 24/7 programme which launched just last month. This programme is TG Consulting’s answer to amending sociocultural bias, supporting the discovery of the best talent for the UK economy, no matter their social mobility status, background or ethnicity.
These incredible individuals have had to overcome significant barriers and challenges surrounding their social mobility and ethnicity, including within employability and education.
They are all from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds and had first-hand experiences of the inequalities this can bring. However, they have acquired the tools to overcome these barriers and achieved multiple successes in their own right.
TG Consulting knows that there is still more that needs to happen in order to advance the issues behind social mobility and diversity. The impact of Covid-19 and The Black Lives Matter movement has only amplified the employability skills and awarding gap and brought into the forefront issues like the digital divide.
Therefore we wanted to have a meaningful and honest discussion directly between universities, employers and the young people affected in the UK.
The final outcomes
According to our poll data, in terms of confidence levels with supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds, 70% of our guests, which comprised of early-career employers and universities, were feeling ‘confident’ and 17% were ‘very confident’ before attending our webinar.
By the end, an increased 32% were ‘very confident’, demonstrating a positive and impactful change amongst our attendees after hearing from our panellists, who gave industry-specific advice and solutions, which was extremely valuable for our guests.
In addition to this, when asked how confident our attendees were on their current student engagement initiatives, 73% were ‘confident’ to begin with, but by the end, 24% cited feeling ‘not very confident’. This illustrates a substantial change amongst our guest employers and universities and that there is always more work to be done within these areas.
Tonia Galati, TG Consulting’s Director & Founder, says: “It’s really apparent that there is clearly amazing young talent hidden within UK institutions including colleges and universities and I think we really need to work collaboratively to ensure these untapped pools do get a seat at the table.”
Overall, we are pleased to say that our webinar was extremely successful and can’t wait for what the future may hold for us (so don’t forget to watch this space!)
What needs to be done
With our new RE:Action 24/7 programme in mind, we understand that it is now more important than ever for these conversations to happen. It is time for us to get comfortable with the uncomfortable.
2020 has seen a significant rise in diversity initiatives and social mobility programmes. Ensuring a diverse workforce and developing a talent pipeline is necessary and starts with universities, offering support to those who need it the most. It is now more vital than ever for sustaining equal opportunities for all, as well as enabling a supportive working environment that is free of discrimination and prejudice.
It is up to us to take action and use these discussions to create real change within our institutions. It's time for us to lead the way for future generations.
At TG Consulting we understand these issues. We know what students want and what they need. We know the challenges that universities face and the pressures they are facing around student experience, so we have presented a solution: RE:Action 24/7.
How we can help
To right the sociocultural bias, we must act now to remove the unconscious barriers that are in place surrounding social mobility and provide illumination to the unseen journeys to attainment for those who are in or in-between social strata.
Our 24/7 programme is our RE:Action to support the discovery of the best talent for the UK economy, no matter their social mobility status, background or ethnicity. It has been created in consultation with students throughout the UK.
It encourages positive action by providing motivation and inspiration to its audience, showcasing what can be achieved in society and the world of business.
Want to find out more about our services? Check out our full list of services here. Or get in touch with us via info@tgconsultingltd.co.uk for a virtual coffee and a free initial consultation.
By Katie Watson, TG Consulting Intern
Greatt post thank you