In line with the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016, it is a continuation of the body previously called the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission.
The Social Mobility Commission comprises our Chair, Alun Francis, two Deputy Chairs and four Commissioners, all appointed by a public appointments process. They are supported by a Secretariat of around twenty civil servants working in the Cabinet Office.
We are responsible for:
- publishing an annual report setting out our views on the progress made towards improving social mobility in the United Kingdom
- promoting social mobility in England, for example, by supporting employers, the professions, universities and schools to play their part in promoting social mobility
- carrying out and publishing research in relation to social mobility
- providing advice to ministers (at their request) on how to improve social mobility in England – this advice must then be published
Our four areas of policy focus are:
- Nurturing Talent – The role of families, the home learning environment and schools in improving social mobility.
- Developing Skills and Talent – The role that skills formation has at all stages of life to improve social mobility.
- Growing Opportunities – The role of innovation and economic growth in improving social mobility.
- Better Data and Evaluation – The role that data has in deepening our understanding of social mobility challenges and informing policy-making.
