News and blogs

18 Nov 2025

In the latest episode of the Social Mobility Talks podcast, Ryan Henson, Social Mobility Commission Commissioner, speaks to Justine Greening, former Secretary of State for Education.

13 Oct 2025

Social Mobility Commission publishes report urging growth and investment outside of London and the South East

The report offers an ambitious strategy to boost growth and investment in the UK’s most disadvantaged regions.

13 Oct 2025

Social Mobility Commission calls for bold new investment and growth strategy to supercharge economies in ‘left behind’ parts of Britain

New report calls for the creation of ‘Opportunity Zones’ to break down barriers to opportunity.

16 Sep 2025

Social Mobility Commission Symposium: Welcome address from Chair Alun Francis

Read a transcript of the welcome address delivered by Alun Francis, Chair of the Social Mobility Commission, at Manchester Hall on 15 September.

10 Sep 2025

Trevor Phillips keynote from the London Social Mobility Commission Symposium  

Read a transcript of Trevor Phillips opening keynote from the London Social Mobility Commission Symposium.

4 Sep 2025

Devolution, growth and opportunity: How the Liverpool City Region is closing the opportunity gap

In the latest episode of the Social Mobility Talks podcast, Alun Francis, Chair of the Social Mobility Commission and Steve Rotherham, Metro Major of the Liverpool City Region, discuss how devolution is helping the region close the opportunity gap.

29 Jul 2025

Our Deputy Chair visits Edinburgh and Glasgow 

Rob Wilson spoke to local leaders in Edinburgh and Glasgow about how regional investment strategies are driving change.

16 Jul 2025

Work-life balance prioritised over material wealth, study finds

What makes for a ‘good life’ has changed for residents in two northwest areas over recent generations, with stability, work life balance and community connection increasingly prioritised over material wealth, the Social Mobility Commission says today.

16 Jul 2025

Deep dives: a local perspective on social mobility

The Social Mobility Commission has published new research which explores the beliefs, attitudes and perceptions of individuals in the most and least socially mobile areas within a larger region.

10 Jun 2025

Social mobility and the economy: are they two sides of the same coin?

Read the full text of the speech delivered by Alun Francis, Chair of the Social Mobility Commission, delivered at the Royal Society of Arts on 4 June 2025.

4 Jun 2025

Rethink failed social mobility policy to improve opportunities for UK’s poorest communities

Current approaches to social mobility are failing the UK’s most disadvantaged communities, the Chair of the Social Mobility Commission, will say today, as he calls for a radical rethink of social mobility policy.

6 May 2025

The Child Poverty Act 15 years on: the truly disadvantaged must not be forgotten

More than 15 years after the Child Poverty Act came into force, we are at risk of losing sight of our truly disadvantaged communities. Alun Francis, Chair of the Social Mobility Commission, and Alan Milburn, the Commission’s first Chair, tell us why we must not be distracted from supporting the people and places most in need.