The awards raise awareness of issues surrounding social mobility and are a celebration of undergraduate students who overcome challenging barriers to achieve success. Students can submit nominations here.
This year, the sixth annual awards ceremony will be held on 18th July 2024 at Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London. Winners will be awarded across 18 categories, covering undergraduates, sixth formers, universities, widening participation organisations, employers, and mentors.
The awards are organised by upReach, an award-winning social mobility charity driven by a vision of a society in which everybody has an equal opportunity to realise their full career potential, regardless of social background. upReach work in close partnership with leading employers and universities, supporting 3,000 students from across the UK to discover a variety of career options, and develop the vital employability skills, networks and experiences needed to succeed in their chosen career and beyond.
"I hope these awards will start the conversation with more people and organisations about social mobility. Hopefully this will lead to organisations being more aware and setting it onto their responsible business agenda, so that social mobility is considered at every level of someone's career.”
Megan Lambert, Newcastle graduate nominated for the 2023 Government, Politics and Public Sector Award
In 2023 two Newcastle University students were recognised in both the Government, Politics and Public Sector Award and Tech Sector award categories. Newcastle graduate Megan Lambert, who was nominated last year for the Government, Politics and the Public Sector Award commented “When I was told that I had been nominated for a SSMA, I felt incredibly humbled. You never do what you do for awards or praise, but to just receive the recognition for years of hard work meant so much to me.
I hope these awards will start the conversation with more people and organisations about social mobility. Hopefully this will lead to organisations being more aware and setting it onto their responsible business agenda, so that social mobility is considered at every level of someone's career.”
For the first time ever, students can nominate themselves for one of three undergraduate awards: Academic Success, Champion of Social Mobility, and Sector Awards. Previous winners include students who have excelled against the odds - volunteering for social causes, achieving high grades, or receiving competitive job offers -despite coming from low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds.
Anyone whose story resonates with this is encouraged to nominate themselves.
Students are also encouraged to nominate their peers for outstanding achievements, as well as their universities, mentors, and student-led groups for the support they have provided.
Representation for students marginalised by socioeconomic factors was addressed in December 2023 when Newcastle University Student Union announced the introduction of a Working Class Liberation Officer role as part of its Student Elections.
This role emerged from a unanimous council decision and represents a concerted effort to amplify the voices of students from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, including those in care or estranged from families.
11.35% of the respondents in the Student Representation Survey by NUSU identify as working class.
Student Representation Survey, NUSU
The recommendation was made as a result of new findings from staff research.
11.35% of the respondents in the Student Representation Survey by NUSU identify as working class. This was the third largest category behind marginalised genders and LGBTQ+. HESA Data from 2021 revealed Newcastle University had 8.8% of students being from low participation neighbourhoods, with 22.6% the figure for the North East as a whole - the highest of all English regions.
It was also highlighted that the university PARTNERS scheme for supported entry routes into higher education has grown from 2.9% in 2018 through to 5.8%.
A 2024 House of Commons research briefing indicates the North East of England has one of the lowest levels of university participation in the UK. The level of higher education participation in the region is around 33% compared to a national average of 38%. In London, the participation rate rises to nearly 50%, highlighting regional disparities.
