Savills has placed 22nd in the Social Mobility Employer Index 2024 – moving up 15 places from 2023 – and demonstrating its continued commitment to improving inclusive growth and accessibility in the property sector.
The index has been created by the Social Mobility Foundation (SMF) and highlights employers who are doing the most to change how they find, recruit, and advance talented employees from different social class backgrounds.
Savills now ranks 22nd out of the 150 businesses that took part – climbing up from 37th in 2023.
Colliers is the only other property firm to feature on the list – ranked 63rd in this year’s index, designed to recognise company’s efforts to ensure those from lower socio-economic backgrounds have the ability to succeed.
Bid manager Rebecca John, who sits on the Savills Social Mobility Group, led the firm’s submission for the second consecutive year.
“To improve our ranking and reach the top 25 is a huge leap, even from where we were last year,” she said. “The Social Mobility Group – co-chaired by Ema Saunders and Sarah Thorley – puts improving outcomes for those from lower socio-economic backgrounds at the heart of what they do and this recognition is testament to everyone’s hard work.
“Our commitment to removing barriers within the real estate sector and championing new entrants remains steadfast. We value the role of community and collaboration in advancing social mobility.
“The SMF has provided positive feedback that reaffirms our effective practices. Their results confirm that our efforts are making a significant impact and that we are poised to further enhance social mobility outcomes. However we recognise that there is still a lot of work to do and we will use this year’s findings to refine our strategies, broaden access and increase awareness to foster greater inclusivity.”
The SMF noted that Savills is taking positive steps to ensure the company is open to and progressing talent from all backgrounds.
This includes improving accessibility to the real estate industry through the strength of its graduate and apprenticeship programmes, as well as targeted outreach through its Savills with Schools initiative.
The depth of its recruitment pipeline and accessible routes into work was also highlighted, as well as working with young people and internal and external advocacy – with accountability for its approach to social mobility sitting at board level.
Now in its eighth year, the SMF Employer Index is the definitive benchmark of organisations committed to improving social mobility in the private, public and voluntary sectors.
Commenting in the report, Alan Milburn, chair on the Social Mobility Foundation, said: “Each of the employers here deserves congratulations. They are leading the way in meeting new public expectations that employers should contribute not just economically, but socially too – helping to make our country fairer.
“The Index entrants drive a wider movement for change as the cost of low social mobility becomes clearer. In fact, raising the UK’s social mobility to the western European average could increase GDP by 2% – the kind of boost our country needs.”