With the new government committed to the One Nation approach, research and headlines such as these could spur them onto action. If a voluntary approach does not work then Government could be forced into legislation or regulation.
Businesses could rightly complain about interference and red tape. Others may instead prefer to try to get ahead of the game and gain some competitive advantage from their recruiting habits.
The media may start to ask more questions about recruitment, diversity and educational background. This has all the hallmarks of being a source of public discussion and all organisations need to work out how to respond. It is a risk for many and should be treated as one. There may be others for which it is a strength and a potential competitive advantage.
The UK’s most elite financial services and legal firms operate a “poshness test” that systematically locks talented working-class people out of high-flying jobs, an official report has found. Recruiters use criteria skewed towards those from privileged backgrounds such as whether candidates have travelled extensively or display “polish” and confidence, the government-appointed Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission reports on Monday.
