This year, we are excited to have launched two new strands of our Careers Plus programme – Careers Plus Tech and Digital and Careers Plus Consulting. Building on the success of Careers Plus Law, these initiatives aim to support high-attaining students from lower socio-economic backgrounds in accessing competitive sectors where they remain underrepresented.

Barriers to access

Sectors like tech and consulting offer dynamic, rewarding careers paths and are powerful engines for social mobility. However, these industries remain among of the least accessible for those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. A recent report from the Tech Talent Charter showed that just 9% of tech employees come from lower socio-economic backgrounds, compared to 29% in finance and 23% in law and around 40% of the wider UK population.

The barriers to entry are complex and wide ranging. Firstly, there is often a lack of awareness of career options for these sectors, if it’s not on a young person’s radar through their existing networks or in popular culture. Secondly, routes into roles within these sectors are often unclear compared to more widely known occupations, such as becoming a doctor. Additionally, application processes can be complicated, and difficult to navigate without personalised advice and support. Finally, there tend to be financial and geographic barriers that prevent students from pursuing these options, with many opportunities located around London.

Careers Plus

At the Sutton Trust, we believe every young person should have a fair chance in life, regardless of their family’s income, the school they go to or where they grow up, allowing them to have the opportunity to pursue careers in these sectors. One way that we do this is through targeted programmes supporting talented young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds to understand and navigate these highly competitive sectors.

Careers Plus is a range of 6-month programmes designed to support students in our alumni community to develop the experience, skills and confidence to apply for competitive early careers opportunities across a range of sectors. The programme includes:

  • One-to-one mentoring with experienced professionals from our partner organisations to support their employability journey.
  • Insight events into various careers within the relevant sector, including routes in and tips for the application process.
  • Skills and professional network development through work experience placements and workshops with employer partners.

We have been delivering the Career Plus Law programme for a number of years and continue to see alumni of the programme like Katie Zacharczuk securing roles in firms with partner with, and others across the sector.

Collaborating for greater impact

Central to Careers Plus programming is our partnership with leading firms such as BCG, Bain & Company, Hogan Lovells, Mischon de Reya and Covington who have been instrumental in bringing these programmes to life. Their involvement provides students with invaluable exposure and insights into these industries and enables firms to access new talent and provide volunteering opportunities for their staff. Partners hugely value the programmes and can see firsthand the impact for students:

“Working with the Sutton Trust has been extremely rewarding and we are delighted to continue this partnership through the Careers Plus programme. The programme builds on the journey that we started with Pathways to Consulting and we are looking forward to seeing the progression of those involved. Through the workshops, the students gain meaningful experiences, practical insights, and guidance that help build confidence, raise aspirations, and take tangible steps toward their career goals.” – BCG

“Mishcon de Reya is delighted to be a flagship and founding partner of the Careers Plus Law programme in partnership with the Sutton Trust.  For three consecutive years, we have hosted a week-long work experience placement for a group of talented young people from less privileged socioeconomic backgrounds who aspire to enter the legal profession.  We very much look forward to continuing our invaluable work with the Sutton Trust.” – Mishcon de Reya

This positive feedback is also reflected in student’s comments about the programme so far:

“I have really enjoyed the Careers Plus Tech and Digital sessions so far. The programme has introduced me to a variety of roles I hadn’t previously considered or did not know of, such as software testing, and provided clear insights into the career paths required to pursue them. I’m looking forward to further developing my skillset over the upcoming months.” – Careers Plus student

Looking ahead

We are excited to host our upcoming Tech & Digital Skills Day in June at McKinsey and Company, alongside insight days and skills sessions this summer, featuring contributions from industry leaders like IBM, Cisco, Microsoft, BAE Systems and many more. These events are crucial in inspiring and connecting the next generation of talent.

If you’d like to find out how you can engage with our programmes, please reach out to [email protected]. By collaborating with us, your organisation can play a pivotal role in creating a fairer society where opportunities are accessible to all, regardless of background. Together, we can empower young people to reach their full potential.