The UK Social Mobility Awards (SOMOs) are pleased to announce the finalists for 2025.
Since its inception in 2017, the awards have recognised and celebrated forward-thinking organisations that are actively creating positive social change for their employees and in their communities, by embedding social mobility initiatives into their core business strategy.
The SOMOs have become an important platform for promoting social mobility in the UK and have attracted entries from leading organisations across the country, spanning multiple sectors.
This year saw a record number of entries, demonstrating an increasingly strong commitment to social mobility by organisations across the UK.
Tunde Banjoko OBE, Founder of the UK Social Mobility Awards, said: “Our vision is for every employer and educator in the UK to take meaningful action on social mobility, so we’re thrilled to see the highest ever entries to this year’s awards.
This record number really highlights that more and more UK businesses understand social mobility is good for business and are actively getting involved in implementing initiatives across the board.”
Winners for the awards are determined by an independent judging panel, made up of leading figures from business, charity, and the public sector, chaired by the HM Lord Lieutenant of London, Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE.
The winners will be announced at the SOMO Awards fundraising gala on Thursday 2nd October 2025 in Central London. To reserve a table, please contact Eugene Blavo (eugene.blavo@mtl.org.uk) or Clementine Kumar (clementine.kumar@mtl.org.uk) via email or phone (020 8962 1900) at the earliest convenience.
This year’s SOMOs are in association with National Grid.
Organisation of the Year | championed by bp
Simmons & Simmons
SBFM
Lloyds Banking Group
KPMG UK
Nandos UK&IRE
Sodexo UK and Ireland
Lewis Silkin LLP
Domestic & General
TJX
Mears Group PLC
Innovation | championed by Amazon
AMS Skills Creation
BPP
Sodexo
Formula 1
Amentum
Knight Frank
Nandos UK&IRE
ICAEW
SBFM
Mears Group PLC
Leadership of the Year
Coventry Building Society
Cisco
Pemberton Asset Management
VCCP
Sodexo
Network Rail & DFTO
Savills
Mears Group PLC
Tata Consultancy Services
Aon
Social Mobility Network of the Year
EY
bp
DLA Piper
NatWest
Canary Wharf Group
Linklaters
Lloyds Banking Group
GSK
Microsoft UK
Moore Kingston Smith
Pre-Recruitment Programme of the Year
Lloyds Banking Group
Autotrader
Norton Rose Fulbright
PA Consulting
Heathrow Airport Ltd
Howard Kennedy
GSK
Aon
Financial Times
Clyde & Co
Recruitment Programme of the Year | championed by Hedley May
Compass Group
DLA Piper
Taylor Wessing
AMS Skills Creation
SecuriGroup
Domestic & General
Moore Kingston Smith
HaysMac
Schroders
Progression Programme of the Year
G4S
Kearney
KPMG
Nationwide
Birmingham & Solihull ICB
Taylor Wessing
Community Programme of the Year
Grant Thornton UK
UK Power Networks
Smith & Nephew
Norton Rose Fulbright
PwC
Landsec
KPMG UK
Linklaters
EDF Hinkley Point C
Pinsent Masons
School/College of the Year | championed by BNP Paribas
Harrison College
Tile Cross Academy
Prendergast Vale School
Eton College
Chiswick School
Nottingham College High Pavement Sixth Form
Ada, the National College for Digital Skills
Saltley Academy
Tottington High School
Bolton School
University of the Year
The Open University
University of Exeter
University of East London
Queen Mary University of London
Imperial College London
Nottingham Trent University
Small Business of the Year | championed by PwC
So-Motive
Day One
Rockleigh Ltd
Successful Mums Academy
Loud Speaker
Razzamataz
Tech for Social Mobility | championed by Lloyds Banking Group
Amentum
PA Consulting
Unifrog
Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP
JS Group
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Sparta Global
Tata Consultancy Services
NTT DATA Business Solutions
Champion of the Year
Paul Speight – Lloyds Banking Group
Alex Jonas – Accenture
Chelsea Whelan – Knight Frank
Andrew Masraf – Pinsent Masons
Malcolm Gomersall – Grant Thornton
Vicki Copley – Network Rail
Deborah Rowland – Sodexo
Joanne Conway – DLA Piper
David Rowlands, KPMG
Jo Fry – Mears Group
Mentor of the Year | championed by Sky
James Anscombe-Bell – PA Consulting
Hannah Leggatt – The Clancy Group
Celeste Man – PA Consulting
Kieran Foy – SecuriGroup
Cliff Fluet – Lewis Silkin LLP
Vicki Hopkins – Phoenix Group
Liam Wilkinson – Mears Group PLC
Liz Connerty – Eton College
Rising Star
Nichole Ama – Moore Kingston Smith
Jon Hering – TalentMapper
Gabriella Falco – KPMG
Joel Cooper – Knight Frank
Sarah Katherine Thorley – Savills
Ruby Davenport – DWP
Eryn Paterson – KPMG
Craig Turner – Lewis Silkin LLP
Desart Ismaili – Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, UCL
Lilli Thompson – EDF Hinkley Point C
Join the discussion:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-uk-social-mobility-awards/
#SOMO2025
Contact Amy Walker on 020 8962 1900 or amy.walker@mtl.org.uk. For further information about Making The Leap contact info@mtl.org.
