According to ACCA, the situation remains bleak in the UK when it comes to social mobility. For many children, wealth continues to be more important than ability at school. Responding to the report, Helen Brand OBE, chief executive of ACCA said:

 

"Providing opportunity is part of ACCA's DNA. It is one of our founding principles. We believe access to the profession must be transparent and above all fair. That is why the findings of this important new report are so concerning to us.

 

“Professional bodies are uniquely placed to engage with members and employers on the issue of social mobility. We must act as a conduit, encouraging organisations to offer work experience and paid internships where they can.

 

“ACCA is proud to be a part of Access Accountancy – an initiative working to ensure work placement opportunities are offered to schools in areas of high deprivation. But more can and needs to be done by all – professional bodies, employers, education providers and government departments must all play their part.”

 

The report from the Social Mobility Commission shines a welcome spotlight on apprenticeships and points out the lack of higher level apprenticeships available. ACCA calls for more to be done to create career pathways for young people and demonstrate that apprenticeships are a great alternative to university and not a second rate option. 

 

Helen Brand added:

"We are hugely supportive of the recommendation to create personal learning accounts for the long-term unemployed. ACCA recently launched ACCA-X, which provides free online learning for those looking to bolster their finance skills. In the modern economy it is essential to keep ‘skilling up’ to ensure you remain attractive to employers and we're keen to make this affordable for all.

 

“We will continue to support the work of the commission and work with the Government to ensure we are delivering on our end of the bargain." 

 

 

For further information:

Rosalind Goates, ACCA Newsroom

T: 020 7059 5616

M: 07912394764

E: Rosalind.Goates@accaglobal.com

 

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants. It offers business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.

ACCA supports its 178,000 members and 455,000 students in 181 countries, helping them to develop successful careers in accounting and business, with the skills required by employers. ACCA works through a network of 95 offices and centres and more than 7,110 Approved Employers worldwide, who provide high standards of employee learning and development. Through its public interest remit, ACCA promotes appropriate regulation of accounting and conducts relevant research to ensure accountancy continues to grow in reputation and influence.

Founded in 1904, ACCA has consistently held unique core values: opportunity, diversity, innovation, integrity and accountability. It believes that accountants bring value to economies in all stages of development and seek to develop capacity in the profession and encourage the adoption of global standards. ACCA’s core values are aligned to the needs of employers in all sectors and it ensures that through its range of qualifications, it prepares accountants for business. ACCA seeks to open up the profession to people of all backgrounds and remove artificial barriers, innovating its qualifications and delivery to meet the diverse needs of trainee professionals and their employers. More information is here: www.accaglobal.com