Organisations and individuals from banking, technology, law, infrastructure, government and higher education are among the finalists for the 2026 UK Social Mobility Awards, recognising efforts to widen access to opportunity, improve recruitment and create fairer pathways for career progression.
The finalists for the 2026 UK Social Mobility Awards (SOMOs) have been revealed, with some of Britain’s biggest employers recognised alongside individuals working to break down barriers to opportunity. Now celebrating their 10th year, the awards, held in association with National Grid, recognise organisations and people working to advance social mobility through recruitment, career development, mentoring, community programmes, technology and leadership.
The finalists come from sectors including banking, law, technology, government, infrastructure, higher education, healthcare, media, transport and defence, underlining how social mobility is increasingly becoming an issue spanning the whole workforce rather than a standalone diversity initiative.
FROM ACCESS TO CAREER PROGRESSION
The breadth of the categories also reflects how the conversation around social mobility is evolving. Creating greater social mobility is not simply about getting people through the door. Employers are increasingly being challenged to consider who gets access to work experience, recruitment opportunities, professional networks, mentoring, development and ultimately progression.
As Fair Play Talks highlighted earlier this year in Social Mobility Day 2026: Why Britain’s Growing Opportunity Gap Should Be a Wake-Up Call for Employers, socioeconomic background can continue to shape access to education, professional connections, employment and career progression.
The challenge has become particularly important for younger workers as employers rethink entry-level roles in response to economic pressures and artificial intelligence. Fair Play Talks has also explored how a lack of networks, work experience and access to employers can turn a perceived skills gap into an opportunity gap, particularly for young people who do not have family or professional connections to help them enter the workplace.
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO OPPORTUNITY
Tunde Banjoko OBE, CEO and Founder of Making The Leap and Founder of the UK Social Mobility Awards, congratulated this year’s finalists. “Congratulations to all finalists who are hugely deserving of the spotlight for the innovative, and impactful, ways they are tackling barriers to opportunity and advancing social mobility,” he said. “This is my 10th UK Social Mobility Awards and I continue to find myself inspired by the dedication of those doing the work to drive social mobility forward. The individuals and organisations on this year’s shortlist are helping to reshape futures, break down barriers and create more equitable pathways to success.”
The SOMOs were created by Making The Leap to encourage organisations to make social mobility a core part of how they operate and provide a platform for employers to showcase their work, learn from others and gain recognition for measurable impact. Fair Play Talks explored the story behind the awards earlier this year, including how Making The Leap’s work eventually led to the creation of the UK Social Mobility Awards, Social Mobility Day, Social Mobility Podcast, Social Mobility Business Seminar and Social Mobility List.
An independent judging panel made up of figures from business, charity and the public sector will select the winners. The panel is chaired by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE.
SOCIAL MOBILITY AWARDS 2026 FINALISTS
The UK’s Social Mobility Awards 2026 finalists include (by category):
INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES
Champion of the Year
- Kate Cheetham, Lloyds Banking Group
- Tara Denley, Morgan Stanley Investment Management
- Jenny Dickson, Morton Fraser MacRoberts
- Darren Hardman, Microsoft UK&I
- Jonathan Holt, KPMG
- Paul Lewis OBE, Linklaters
- Andrew Masraf, Pinsent Masons
- Professor Arad Reisberg, Brunel University of London
- Paul Speight, Lloyds Banking Group
Mentor of the Year
- Nina Buttle, PageGroup
- Will Drayson, Mears Group PLC
- Eleanor Higginson, Slaughter and May
- Lauren Moore, Pinsent Masons
- Gabrielle Pereira, Slaughter and May
- Sunny Tatla, Tokio Marine HCC
- William Turner, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Rising Star, championed by PwC
- Sanae Elmed, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
- Tom Glenn, Lewis Silkin LLP
- Deniz Horoz, Mears Group plc
- Victoria Howard, Browne Jacobson
- Eloisa McKee, KPMG
- Rachel McMahon, Corecom Tech Academy
- Monica O’Brien, SecuriGroup
- Josh Wilkins, A&O Shearman
- Emilie Wright, Sodexo
ORGANISATIONAL CATEGORIES
Organisation of the Year, championed by bp
- Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
- KPMG UK
- Lewis Silkin LLP
- Lloyds Banking Group
- LMAX Group
- Mears Group PLC
- Ministry of Defence
- NatWest Group
- Norton Rose Fulbright
- Savills
Innovation, championed by Barclays
- AMS Skills Creation and ONS
- Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
- Lewis Silkin LLP
- Pinsent Masons
- Savills
- Snap Inc., Morgan Stanley and Monday.com
- Sodexo
- University of Nottingham
- Queen Mary University of London
Leadership of the Year
- Flex Legal
- G4S
- HSBC
- KPMG
- Mears Group PLC
- Morgan Stanley
- Norton Rose Fulbright
- Sheffield City Council
- Sodexo
- Wychavon District Council
Social Mobility Network of the Year
- Aviva
- Boston Consulting Group UK LLP
- EY
- HSBC
- KPMG
- Linklaters
- Lloyds Banking Group
- Ofcom
- Sky
- Sodexo
Pre-Recruitment Programme of the Year, championed by BNP Paribas
- bp
- Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
- HSBC
- KPMG
- Lloyds Banking Group
- Network Rail
- Pemberton Asset Management
- Tokio Marine HCC
- Trowers & Hamlins
- University of Warwick
Recruitment Programme of the Year, championed by Hedley May
- Department for Work and Pensions
- Foot Anstey
- Goldman Sachs
- Havas UK
- Howden Group Holdings
- ICG
- KPMG
- Lloyds Banking Group
- PA Consulting
- Royal London
Progression Programme of the Year
- Close Brothers
- DLA Piper
- G4S
- Royal London
- Sky
- Sodexo
Community Programme of the Year
- Aberdeen Group plc
- Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
- Linklaters
- London Luton Airport
- Mears Group plc
- Michael Page
- PwC
- Sizewell C
- Slaughter and May
- Vanquis
University of the Year, championed by Sky
- Birmingham Newman University
- BPP
- University of Bradford
- University of Exeter
- University of Leeds
- The University of Sheffield
- University of Worcester
Tech for Social Mobility, championed by Lloyds Banking Group
- Accenture
- LMAX Group
- Met Office
- Microsoft UK&I
- NTT DATA Business Solutions UK&I
- PA Consulting
- Tata Consultancy Services
WHY SOCIAL MOBILITY MATTERS FOR EMPLOYERS
The finalists highlight the different points at which employers can influence social mobility – from outreach and pre-recruitment programmes to hiring, mentoring, skills development and progression. That matters at a time when access to the first rung of the career ladder is becoming harder for many young people. Fair Play Talks recently reported concerns that rising business costs are contributing to fewer entry-level opportunities, raising questions not only about how many jobs Britain creates, but who gets access to them.
Structured work experience can play an important role too, particularly for young people who do not already have access to professional networks through family or friends. New employment programmes aimed at giving young people that first opportunity are therefore increasingly part of the wider social mobility conversation. The SOMOs aim to highlight employers and individuals putting some of those ideas into practice, and allow other organisations to see what effective action can look like.
WHERE YOU START SHOULDN’T DEFINE WHERE YOU END UP
Winners across 13 categories will be announced at a gala ceremony in Central London on Tuesday 6 October 2026. This year’s ceremony will be hosted by writer, actor, director and comedian Sue Perkins, who said the initiatives being recognised demonstrate practical approaches to challenges including education, recruitment and career development.
“I’m really looking forward to hosting the SOMOs and celebrating all finalists who, through their work, are tackling issues [around] access to education, fair recruitment and long-term career development,” she said. “What’s encouraging is the number of initiatives that confront these issues head-on. The common thread across all shortlisted entries is a belief that where you start in life shouldn’t define where you end up – and a determination to turn that belief into practical, measurable action.”
Find out more about the UK Social Mobility Awards 2026 and the finalists here.
RELATED ARTICLES
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Britain’s youth employment crisis could deepen as rising business costs squeeze entry-level jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities, the CBI has warned.
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Sainsbury’s is creating around 10,000 work experience opportunities for young people across the UK as employers face growing pressure to rebuild routes into work.
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The UK Government and defence industry have pledged to provide more than 40,000 opportunities a year for young people, rising to around 50,000 annually by 2035.
