Industry Heroes
Yorkshire Building Society joins Progress Together network to promote social mobility
Yorkshire Building Society has joined the Progress Together network to improve social mobility in financial services.
The mutual is one of over 100 employers on the social mobility-focused Progress Together network and aims to “promote opportunities at work for all and show people from less advantaged backgrounds they can progress”.
Yorkshire Building Society said that joining the network was part of its continued commitment to creating an inclusive workplace.
The lender added that colleagues have been asked to share information on their socioeconomic background as a starting point to help the company understand where improvements may be needed and set targets to improve social mobility.
Tina Hughes, director of marketing and digital channels at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “At Yorkshire Building Society, we have colleagues with different beliefs, ages, cultures, outlooks and more – just like the communities we serve.
“Social mobility is a key part of our diversity, equity and inclusion [DE&I] strategy, which sets out our vision to build a society where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued, empowered and supported.”
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She added: “We’re proud of that, and we’re working hard to create an environment that’s welcoming and inclusive, where everyone has the opportunity to develop and progress.
“We want everyone to have the chance to show their full potential – it’s about what they can bring to the business, not where they were brought up or the school they went to. We can always go further and do more, and that’s why we’ve joined Progress Together.”
‘Commitment to improving socioeconomic diversity at senior levels’
Sophie Hulm, CEO of Progress Together, said: “As a member of Progress Together, Yorkshire Building Society has demonstrated commitment to improving socioeconomic diversity at senior levels.
“By working together, we are making changes in UK financial services, ensuring that employees from all backgrounds have the opportunity to reach their career potential. This benefits individuals, business and the wider economy.”
Progress Together was launched as part of a government-commissioned taskforce on social mobility. The research on member firms found that, on average, half of employees were from a higher socioeconomic background, which compared to 37% in the wider UK workforce.
If you are interested in learning more about social mobility, read our previous Diversity and Inclusivity Finance Forum (DIFF) coverage.