Unleashing aspiration

The Government's response is to back the majority of the Panel's conclusions and work on their recommendations has already begun. The report stated that elitism in the professions and a lack of focus on careers in schools mean that bright young people from middle class as well as lower income backgrounds are being shut out from professional jobs. The Panel chaired by Alan Milburn MP, concluded that without action to address Britain's closed shop mentality, tomorrow's generation of talented young people will miss out on a new wave of social mobility. There were over 80 recommendations in the final report with social mobility to be the top social policy priority. This response includes plans to raise aspirations by focusing on four factors that impact on people's life chances: the care and development of children in their early years, the quality of our schools, continued and high quality education and training post 16 and the skills our workforce.