People with a shared passion for improving social mobility gathered for the 2026 Social Mobility Business Seminar, this morning (Wednesday 22 April), to hear senior leader perspectives, practical discussion and valuable insights into how organisations are advancing social mobility in a changing world.
The event was hosted and chaired online by Tunde Banjoko OBE, CEO & Founder, Making The Leap and founder of The UK Social Mobility Awards.
Darren Hardman, CEO of Microsoft UK & Ireland delivered a keynote addressing that in an AI-driven economy, social mobility will depend less on intent and more on measurable impact, with skills becoming the primary currency of opportunity and a risk that poorly implemented AI could deepen existing inequalities.
Drawing on his own working‑class background, Darren stressed the need to rethink hiring and talent development, so organisations prioritise skills, potential and belonging over background or credentials, illustrated through real examples of access changing lives.
He concluded by calling for a shift from activity to outcomes, urging organisations to invest in partnerships, track real progression, and see inclusion and competitiveness as mutually reinforcing foundations for shared prosperity in the AI era.
Deputy Chair of The Social Mobility Commission, Rob Wilson, spoke about how investment, entrepreneurship, skills and devolution reflect a joined‑up ambition to empower places with the capital, capability and control needed to drive inclusive economic growth from the ground up.
The Social Mobility Day 2026 theme, Stories Matter, was launched by Becky Simpson and Kimone Telfer of BrandPointZero. Social Mobility Day takes place on Thursday 11 June with the theme Stories Matter; which encourages individuals and organisations to write a story they can be proud of, expanding opportunity so more people can grow, succeed and belong.
Nina Slingby, CEO of OAHA shared research that analysed all entries from The UK Social Mobility Awards in 2025 and highlighted what employers are doing to advance social mobility, the barriers they have overcome, and what best practice looks like.
Finally, the panel – Emma Cody, Tax Partner at PwC, Joanne Conway, Head of Inclusion & Culture at DLA Piper, Craig Hunter, Head of Strategy, Performance & Resilience at National Grid and John Kiely, Partner at Howard Kennedy LLP – discussed cutting through good intentions to confront what it really takes to advance social mobility.
Panellists spoke candidly about imposter syndrome, the risk of networks becoming talk shops, and what organisations must actually do to support people from lower socio‑economic backgrounds. The discussion also examined how AI is reshaping the workforce and the need to embed social mobility into future skills and opportunity, not let it fall behind.
The event precedes the opening of entries for The UK Social Mobility Awards on Monday 27 April. Find out more at somo.uk
