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Professions must be open to all backgrounds, Alan Milburn says Professions must be open to all backgrounds, Alan Milburn says
(about 1 hour later)
Professions such as law, journalism and medicine must do more to widen their intake, the deputy prime minister's social mobility adviser has said.Professions such as law, journalism and medicine must do more to widen their intake, the deputy prime minister's social mobility adviser has said.
Ex-Labour minister Alan Milburn called for a "bigger drive" to open careers to young people from poorer backgrounds.Ex-Labour minister Alan Milburn called for a "bigger drive" to open careers to young people from poorer backgrounds.
Publishing a "progress report" on the issue, he said internship schemes were a "lottery" and no profession had "cracked" widening recruitment.Publishing a "progress report" on the issue, he said internship schemes were a "lottery" and no profession had "cracked" widening recruitment.
Economic difficulties meant the issue risked being "sidelined", he added. Deputy PM Nick Clegg said the issue was still not being taken seriously enough.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the report contained "trenchant criticisms" of the professions.
'Too sporadic''Too sporadic'
In 2010, the former health secretary was tasked by the coalition with looking at the state of social mobility, having performed a similar role for Labour under Gordon Brown.In 2010, the former health secretary was tasked by the coalition with looking at the state of social mobility, having performed a similar role for Labour under Gordon Brown.
This came amid concerns that entrants to the professions were coming from an increasingly narrow social group.This came amid concerns that entrants to the professions were coming from an increasingly narrow social group.
Mr Milburn, who stood down as an MP at the last election, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There's a series of barriers that, maybe inadvertently, the professions put in the way of those with ability and aptitude from a variety of backgrounds getting even the first foot career on the ladder into the professions.Mr Milburn, who stood down as an MP at the last election, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "There's a series of barriers that, maybe inadvertently, the professions put in the way of those with ability and aptitude from a variety of backgrounds getting even the first foot career on the ladder into the professions.
"It's partially about how they provide work experience opportunities, internships, their recruitment processes, where they recruit from.""It's partially about how they provide work experience opportunities, internships, their recruitment processes, where they recruit from."
The report says:The report says:
• Efforts to raise career awareness and aspiration in schools are "too sporadic and too unspecific"• Efforts to raise career awareness and aspiration in schools are "too sporadic and too unspecific"
• Too many employers are recruiting from "too narrow a range of universities and regions"• Too many employers are recruiting from "too narrow a range of universities and regions"
• Work experience and internships are becoming more important to job prospects, but they are "still a lottery"• Work experience and internships are becoming more important to job prospects, but they are "still a lottery"
• Selection processes for careers are still "too haphazard"• Selection processes for careers are still "too haphazard"
• Entry to professions has "begun to be diversified but the graduate grip on the labour market is still strong". • The graduate grip on the labour market is "still strong".
Mr Milburn, who has described the 1950s and 1960s as the "golden age" of social mobility, said some organisations had made a "robust challenge" to the status quo but no profession had "cracked the fair access problem" and they all needed to "massively up their game". Assessing progress on recommendations made in 2009, Mr Milburn said a best practice code for internships had been drawn up, but little had been done to help students from poorer backgrounds afford to take up such opportunities and professions had not reviewed their own practices.
'Up their game' Mr Milburn, who has described the 1950s and 1960s as the "golden age" of social mobility, has suggested legislation may be needed to guarantee fair access to internships if progress is not made on a voluntary basis.
'Socially exclusive'
The report noted that the legal profession was making "real efforts" to widen its intake, but added that the "further up the profession you go, the more socially exclusive it becomes".The report noted that the legal profession was making "real efforts" to widen its intake, but added that the "further up the profession you go, the more socially exclusive it becomes".
Medicine lacked a "sense of the sort of galvanised effort" to improve access to young people from different backgrounds, while journalism had increasingly become a "degree-only profession" and, on the whole, did "not seem to take the issue of fair access seriously". Medicine lacked a "sense of the sort of galvanised effort" to improve access to young people from different backgrounds, while journalism had increasingly become a "degree-only profession".
Overall, the report concluded that "despite rhetoric to the contrary, all too often the reality is that the fair access agenda remains sidelined in most professions". Overall, the report concluded no profession had "cracked the fair access problem" and "all too often the reality is that the fair access agenda remains sidelined in most professions".
Despite the weakness of the economy, Mr Milburn said employment in the professions was increasing and there was a "prospective dividend" for the country if policies were got right.Despite the weakness of the economy, Mr Milburn said employment in the professions was increasing and there was a "prospective dividend" for the country if policies were got right.
"David Cameron is fond of saying: 'We are all in this together,'" he said. "This is a job for government, universities, schools and for professional employers as well.""David Cameron is fond of saying: 'We are all in this together,'" he said. "This is a job for government, universities, schools and for professional employers as well."
'Complex issue''Complex issue'
Mr Clegg told Sky News that social mobility was a "complex" issue and could not be improved overnight. Mr Clegg, who has acknowledged he benefited himself from family contacts early in his career, said social mobility was a "complex" issue and could not be improved overnight.
The last Labour government had made little progress despite the stronger economic backdrop it enjoyed, he claimed. But he added: "Progress has not been fast enough and in some industries the issues are still not taken seriously.
"Too many professions are, in effect, shutting out opportunities for youngsters who are under-represented in those professions," he said. "There needs to be a step change in professions like medicine, journalism and politics. We'll be picking up the pace and keeping the pressure on in the coming months to get more companies flying the flag for fairness."
The government has promised to set up a social mobility and child poverty commission, and also recently announced plans for an annual "snapshot" of social mobility by measuring information such as educational achievement, access to professions and birth weights.The government has promised to set up a social mobility and child poverty commission, and also recently announced plans for an annual "snapshot" of social mobility by measuring information such as educational achievement, access to professions and birth weights.
Labour have said social mobility is going "backwards" under the coalition and there must be far more opportunities for people not going into higher education.Labour have said social mobility is going "backwards" under the coalition and there must be far more opportunities for people not going into higher education.
Did you encounter barriers to getting your job? Do you recognise the problems mentioned in this report? You can send us your views and tell us about your experiences using the form below.Did you encounter barriers to getting your job? Do you recognise the problems mentioned in this report? You can send us your views and tell us about your experiences using the form below.