Foot Anstey participates in Social Mobility programme opening up career pathways for local students

On Thursday 31 October 2024, Foot Anstey took part in the Social Mobility Business Partnership (SMBP) programme, a national initiative aimed at increasing social mobility by breaking down career barriers for young people. Through SMBP, students gained valuable work insights, developed key workplace skills, and connected with a network of professional support to help them succeed in their future careers.

Over the five-day programme, students from Exeter-area schools and colleges visited several leading organisations alongside Foot Anstey, gaining exposure to different work environments through interactive business simulations and skills-building workshops. In addition to exploring potential career opportunities, students engaged in activities that developed key competencies including teamwork, communication and problem-solving. They also spent a day at a professional sports club to learn about resilience and goal-setting.

During their SMBP experience, students visited Foot Anstey alongside several major employers, including:

• Pennon Group PLC, an environmental infrastructure group
• Exeter Chiefs, a professional rugby union club
• Supacat, a manufacturer of vehicles for extreme conditions
• Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• University of Exeter

Alastair Nuttall, an Associate at Foot Anstey, commented: “This is our second year involved with SMBP, and it's incredibly rewarding to see the impact this programme has on the students. For Foot Anstey, it’s a chance to collaborate with other local major employers to break down barriers to a career in business for talented individuals.”

About Social Mobility Business Partnership (SMBP)

Founded in 2014, SMBP was created to address psychological and logistical barriers students face when entering professional environments. The programme provides students with practical skills and direct exposure to corporate and professional settings, helping to enhance their applications for universities and jobs with CV-building brand names. Since its inception, SMBP has grown from supporting 20 students in London to over 1,000 students nationwide. This year, SMBP expanded to include Plymouth, Newport, and Wrexham, with plans for Cornwall in the near future.

A volunteer-led charity, SMBP partners with a wide range of businesses, professional service firms, and sports teams to offer students from low-income backgrounds work experience and skills development opportunities. SMBP alumni benefit from lifetime access to the SMBP app, which features a career mentoring platform, rolling job notifications, and an innovative group mentoring model. This approach offers alumni ongoing access to advice while allowing mentors to balance their involvement around personal and work commitments.