Social Mobility Symposium June 23 2026

The over one million young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) have made headlines this year.  

A lack of adequate attention and decades of policy churn has allowed a whole generation of young people to find themselves labelled ‘NEET’. But who finds themselves with this label? Where someone grows up, their gender, socio-economic background and health are all playing a part in these stark stats. 

The Social Mobility Symposium will bring together policymakers, cross-party voices and experts to explore the landscape of the UK’s welfare system and its direct impact on NEETs and social mobility. 

Attendees will hear from a range of experts discussing welfare policies, pathways for NEETs, place-based approaches, and the intersections of mental health, disabilities, and welfare. After the day concludes attendees are invited to attend a networking event also hosted at the Royal Society of Arts. 

Date: Tuesday 23 June 2026

Venue: Royal Society of Arts House, 8 John Adam St, London, WC2N      

Agenda:
09.00 - 09:45 - Arrival and registration
09:45 - 11:00 - Welcome address and opening speakers
11.00 - 11:30 - Break
11:30-  12:45 - Panel Sessions
12:45 - 14.00 - Lunch
14.00 - 15.15 - Panel Sessions
15:15 - 15:45 - Break
15:45 - 16:45 - Closing Keynote, Q&A and remarks
16:45 - 18:30 - Networking Event in the RSA

Keynote Speakers:

• Angela Rayner MP -  Former Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
• Helen Whately MP - Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions
• Lord Blunkett, Former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Education and Home Office.

Expert panels:

Pathways for NEETs

• Alun Francis: Chair, Social Mobility Commission 
• Nick Bent - CEO, upReach
• Charlotte McGrath - CEO, Movement to Work
• Sharon Blyfield - Head of Early Careers, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners GB
• Craig Beaumont - Executive Director, Federation of Small Businesses
• Lauren Domfe - Founder of Bear the Brunt

Place-based approaches

• Rob Wilson - Deputy Chair, Social Mobility Commission 
• Baroness Stedman-Scott - Former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions 
• Councillor Bev Craig - Leader of Manchester City Council 
• Anna Dawe - Principal & CEO, Wigan & Leigh College
• Sarah Yong - Interim Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Youth Futures Foundation
• Paul O'Neill - Development Director, Steve Morgan Foundation

Welfare policies and how these currently influence NEETs

• Resham Kotecha - Deputy Chair, Social Mobility Commission 
• Ryan Wain - Executive Director of Politics, Tony Blair Institute 
• Dr Annie Irvine - Qualitative social researcher and Lecturer in Social Policy at the University of York.
• Robert Halfon - Executive Director, Make UK and  Former Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships & HE
• Laura-Jane Rawlings - CEO, Youth Employment UK
• Peter Swallow MP - Chair of the APPG on Social Mobility

The link between physical and mental health and the welfare state

• Tina Stowell - Commissioner, Social Mobility Commission 
• Naomi Clayton - CEO, Institute for Employment Studies
• Laura Savage - Partner Services and Social Value Solutions Director, People Plus  
• Joanna Hofman - Director of Research and Evaluation, IPSOS 
• Sophia Kleanthous - Senior Campaigns and Public Affairs Officer,  Transport for all 
• Fraser Nelson -  Political journalist and editor of The Spectator Magazine

Any questions, please contact the Social Mobility Commission team on: symposium@socialmobilitycommission.gov.uk

Please note that the Social Mobility Commission's Data Privacy Notice is available here and covers all data collected during the event registration process.