Our Impact

I'd like to give a special appreciation to my SMF mentor, who was also absolutely amazing.

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I'm currently an FY2 doctor working in London, and I'm really enjoying it. It's been a long yet rewarding journey getting to where I am today, and I wouldn't have been able to do it without the constant support of my parents, teachers, and the SMF. Their guidance and encouragement helped me stay motivated throughout the whole process.

As the first person in my family to attend higher education, the process felt new and daunting. I was fortunate to be part of the SMF Aspiring Students Programme, and the opportunities it provided were phenomenal. From workshops and work experience to personal statement support, mentoring, and mock interviews, the programme offered invaluable guidance at every stage of the application process. It gave me both the confidence and practical tools I needed to succeed. Although my state school had strong community links that allowed me to gain unique experiences, the wide network and medicine-specific opportunities provided by SMF were key in supporting my medical school applications. As a result, I was lucky enough to receive two offers in London and went on to graduate from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry (QMUL) in 2024.

I'd like to give a special appreciation to my SMF mentor, who was also absolutely amazing—supporting me throughout the entire process, guiding me through medical school, and still being someone I can turn to for advice even now as a doctor.

I am really looking forward to my next chapter with speciality training. On reflection, I would say everyone's journey is unique—use that as your strength. Turn your circumstances into your greatest advantage, and remember you can achieve anything you set your mind to. A motto I still stand by is: if you don't ask, you don't get. Don't be afraid to challenge yourself. I wish you all the very best for the future!

Being on the SMF's Aspiring Professionals Programme has been transformational.

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When I joined the programme back in sixth form I never imagined I would go on to work for an SMF partner employer, doing something I enjoy!

The SMF made a real difference at university by expanding my commercial awareness through regular webinars, providing mentoring to support me to explore my next steps, and offering internships and graduate roles through partner employers. I didn't know what I wanted to do post university – other than something with good learning opportunities and that aligned to my enjoyment of problem solving. In final year having applied to lots of places (many of them typical graduate employers) I hadn't secured a role. Through the SMF, I was able to apply to exclusive opportunities which led to me securing a post-degree internship (and a full-time job off the back of the internship).

When you invest in social mobility, you don't just change one life — you change the trajectory of whole families.

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When me and my family arrived in the UK in 2014, we didn't speak a word of English.

Fast forward a year. One afternoon, I heard something over the school tannoy: "The Social Mobility Foundation — helping you get into university."

So, I signed up.

That single moment changed everything.

Thanks to the SMF's support, I learned how to write a personal statement, how to apply, to university how to dream bigger. I worked my way through exams and received an unconditional offer to study Finance — and won a scholarship that made higher education possible. That's how I became the first person in my family to ever go to university.

I didn't go to a target school or a Russell Group university — I didn't even know what those were. The goal was simple: study hard, stay close to home, and make education affordable for my family.

Fast forward to my second year at university. Through the Social Mobility Foundation, I discovered for the first time how opportunities like insight weeks and internships could open doors I never knew existed. One of them led to a summer placement at my current employer — my first step into private wealth management, an industry I once found intimidating.

I didn't know anyone in finance, but thanks to SMF, I was paired with a mentor who knew Glasgow inside out. We had something in common — and that connection made all the difference. We're still in touch today.

In my first two years of full-time work, I helped my family achieve something we'd never known before — housing security. For the first time, we finally had a home no one could take away from us.

It's not just my story — it's my parents', my siblings', and every young person I now support. Because when you invest in social mobility, you don't just change one life — you change the trajectory of whole families.

The SMF undoubtedly changed my trajectory by giving me continued support over the last seven years.

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I’m a current Finance Analyst. I took part in the 2019 Aspiring Professionals Programme, and I graduated from LSE in 2024 with a BSc in Politics and Economics.

I want to start by giving a huge shout-out to SMF, because it genuinely changed the course of my career and university trajectory.

I am originally from the London borough of Hackney, and I attended a school that the Guardian ranked as “the fifth most disadvantaged in England”. Throughout my life, I faced obstacles both at school and at home. Most significantly, being the first person in my family to finish school and being the only English speaker at home. I was also one of very few students to achieve A-Levels and progress to university, and the lack of guidance I experienced at school was replaced by the support I found through SMF. During university, I also struggled with imposter syndrome and having that consistent encouragement made a real difference. The APP programme gave me my first exposure to work experience at JPMorgan, which kick-started my journey with the firm back in 2019. It also gave me tailored university application advice, which supported me as I went on to study at LSE.

The SMF undoubtedly changed my trajectory by giving me continued support over the last seven years. Through SMF, I was matched with mentors at JPMorgan who helped me build my CV and strengthen my applications throughout university. Just as importantly, I was able to build a network at the firm before joining, and that early advice and encouragement only further supported me when I applied, interned in 2023, and ultimately started my career at the firm.

I am immensely grateful to SMF, and I truly would not be where I am today without them.

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I do not believe I would have achieved what I have without that support and the opportunities that you gave me.

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As part of the Social Mobility Foundation's student programme, I undertook an SMF internship with the then Leader of the House of Commons.

That experience was transformative. It was a really exciting week that I will never forget and it gave me the confidence to go on and secure a place at a leading university.

I have since built a career in the Civil Service and was awarded an OBE in the 2025 New Year Honours for my service to the country. Earlier this year, I had the privilege of attending the investiture at Windsor Castle.

Reflecting on that day, I wanted to write to thank the SMF. Your work had a profound impact on my life, and I do not believe I would have achieved what I have without that support and the opportunities that you gave me.

My confidence grew and mindset shifted.

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I grew up in Barking and Dagenham, one of London's top 10 most deprived boroughs. It made me resourceful and resilient, but it also came with limitations. I had big ambitions such as going to a top university, securing a high-paying job and one day ease the pressure on my mum after everything she had sacrificed for me.

But wanting something and knowing how to get there are two very different things. I had no clear path and access to people who had done it before. I knew what I wanted. I just didn't have the networks, the information or the exposure to make it feel possible.

Everything changed when I joined the Social Mobility Foundation's Aspiring Professionals Programme in 2018. For the first time, I stepped inside corporate banks like Schroders as part of the London Banking & Finance Futures Day, attended an insight day at Cambridge University and made friends with like-minded people who refused to shrink their ambitions. Through workshops and skills sessions, my confidence grew and mindset shifted.

I went on to receive a full social mobility scholarship to study Economics at the University of Warwick, secured internships at Credit Suisse and eventually worked as an Equity Trader at the investment bank. But the biggest shift was internal. Travelling beyond my neighbourhood, meeting people from different backgrounds and being exposed to new ways of thinking broke through the glass ceiling my upbringing had quietly placed above me.

That journey led me to study Entrepreneurship at Cambridge Judge Business School and ultimately to found the Valuable Community. I've paved a new career as a social entrepreneur.

Today, through retreats, workshops, talks and social spaces, I create life-changing opportunities for young adults from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Under my leadership, Valuable Community has supported over 300 young people and built a growing community rooted in belonging, ambition and excellence.

Supporting others from similar backgrounds is something I am deeply committed to‍.

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Coming from a background with limited exposure to the finance industry, one of the main barriers I faced was a lack of awareness around the breadth of opportunities available and how to access them. Without an existing network, it was difficult to gain insights into different roles or understand recruitment processes, which often felt opaque. Additionally, there was a confidence gap as navigating such a competitive industry without prior exposure made it challenging to see where I could fit in.

Support from the Social Mobility Foundation and JPMorgan Chase played a pivotal role in overcoming these barriers. Through the Aspiring Professionals Programme, I completed two weeks in Asset Management in 2021 and a further week in the Investment Banking Division in 2022. These experiences gave me practical exposure to different areas of the firm, helped build my commercial awareness, and, importantly, connected me with mentors and professionals who offered guidance and encouragement. This support made the industry feel more accessible and gave me the motivation to pursue a career within it.

I now work at JPMorgan Chase as a Degree Apprentice in CIB Operations, whilst studying towards my degree with the University of Exeter. The Aspiring Professionals Programme was instrumental in helping me get here, as it not only developed my technical understanding but also provided early exposure to the firm’s culture. Alongside my role, I remain actively involved in advocating social mobility. I have shared my experience on numerous panels and events, including one at the Houses of Parliament where I spoke with our CEO, Jamie Dimon. In addition, I was selected to represent early careers at the firm through the “Make Opportunity Happen” marketing campaign. Supporting others from similar backgrounds is something I am deeply committed to, and I hope to continue helping widen access to the industry.

The SMF continues to support me through my new chapter at JPMorgan.

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Having moved to North East England at a young age and progressing through the regional school system, I quickly came to realise that opportunities for people from my background were limited, especially in the finance and economics sectors. On the rare occasion I was able to find insights, it was disheartening to see the visible difference between the exposure I had received to the industry and that of other people my age. When my school briefly mentioned the SMF, I was interested to see there was an opportunity to level the playing field with those more traditional finance candidates.

I hadn’t expected the level of support, the push for inclusion, or the industry exposure that was provided by the SMF and dedicated JPMorgan employees. Three weeks of placement across both the commercial and investment bank provided me with skills and a professional network that I could not have gained otherwise, and which still serves me well as I have left mandatory education.

Before my work experience with JPMC, I was battling with the idea of going to university to study in unaffordable environment. Degree apprenticeships were not something I had considered due to the stigma they carry and the prestige of many of the firms offering them. It wasn’t until the Aspiring Professionals Programme were I realised the skills I had been practicing would make me a good candidate, and decided to apply despite the fear I would fail against more well-connected candidates.

In September 2025, I started my role in Security Service Operations as a full time Degree Apprentice, working in the ACU Digital and Change team while studying towards an Applied Finance degree. The SMF continues to support me through my new chapter at JPMorgan, offering a network of both young and experienced professionals that are happy to support me through my career. The professional support I received from the charity were integral in jumpstarting my career, and I am looking forward to working more in a firm that explores talent from all backgrounds.

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The SMF gave me support that made each step feel manageable rather than overwhelming.

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Coming from a family where no one had been to university before, I didn't have much guidance on how the process worked or what to expect. The SMF became my first real source of clarity. They helped me understand how to navigate applications, student finance, and make decisions that felt completely new to me at the time.

When I started university, I noticed that my Scouse accent sometimes shaped how people perceived me. It wasn't dramatic, but it was enough to make me aware of how background can influence first impressions. Through SMF workshops, I learned professional skills, especially networking, that helped me feel more confident in academic and professional settings. These were skills I wouldn't have come across otherwise.

One of the most valuable parts of the programme was having a mentor. They helped me understand the range of careers in science, talked through my options, and made the idea of pursuing research feel realistic and achievable.

I'm now a PhD student in astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Manchester. Looking back, the SMF played a steady, practical role in getting me here. They gave me information I didn't have, skills I hadn't been exposed to, and support that made each step feel manageable rather than overwhelming. Their involvement didn't change my story dramatically, it simply opened doors I might not have known existed.