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What we do

5 people crowd round a laptop

The Social Mobility Commission (SMC) exists to create a United Kingdom where the circumstances of birth do not determine outcomes in life.

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.