The Open University (OU) has collaborated with TrainingZone to publish a new whitepaper which highlights the importance of Learning and Development teams in enabling social mobility.
The author is Jessica Leigh Jones MBE, a multi-award-winning engineer and entrepreneur based in Wales. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of iungo Solutions, a technology start-up developing immersive learning experiences for educational and business clients.
Jessica defines what social mobility means to the workplace and highlights some of the hidden talent pools often missed by both businesses and wider society. She also shares a range of insights, strategies and tools to help organisations access talent they may have overlooked.
Viren Patel, Director – Business Development Unit at the OU said:
“Education has always been a key driver of social mobility and this has been a constant thread that has run through The Open University’s work for more than five decades.
“Together with TrainingZone, we’ve asked Jessica to author this whitepaper to help employers better understand social mobility and why they should factor it into their learning and development strategy.
“The paper highlights many Open University initiatives where we have helped individuals and organisations reach their full potential and Jessica gives readers some practical hints and tips which will hopefully get you thinking in a different way.”
The whitepaper is also packed with OU resources and examples of how the university has worked with individuals and employers to drive social mobility at work.
Jessica Leigh Jones MBE said:
“Social mobility is an important subject that I personally relate to and feel passionate about. There is a wealth of talent and potential being incubated in some of the most deprived parts of the country and hard-to-reach groups within society.
As an employer, I hope to show other organisations what’s possible with a practical guide to recognising and supporting socially diverse talent for the benefit of business, individuals and the wider community.
“L&D managers and practitioners have a unique and important role in levelling the playing field for people from all backgrounds and all experiences. Inclusive and well-designed work-based L&D initiatives have the potential to alter perceptions and transform the lives of people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.”
iungo Solutions’ core philosophy is that “everyone is an apprentice” and they currently employ degree apprentices through the OU.
View the whitepaper in full on TrainingZone’s website.
