More firms join accountancy-led social mobility initiative

ICAEW has revealed 16 professional services and environmental firms have been announced as the newest partners of social mobility initiative Rise. Rise, which launched last year, was set up to teach life skills to young people from low socio-economic backgrounds. The scheme will see the new partners provide volunteers to support sessions and develop relationships with schools in their local communities. They are: AAB Albert Goodman Atmo Technology BPP Crowe Dixon Wilson Duncan and Toplis First Intuition Harris and Co Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) Kaplan Lubbock Fine Moore Kingston Smith RSM UK Saffery Champness Wheelhouse Advisors. In the course of this academic year, Rise will deliver 50 workshops to 3,000 pupils at schools across the UK. The workshops are delivered by educational charity the Talent Foundry. With the help of the new partners, Rise hopes to have 6,000 pupils attend 100 workshops in 2022-23. The initiative was established to help young people from low socio-economic backgrounds realise and raise their aspirations, by ensuring they have the skills required to succeed in life and work. It was launched by ICAEW, EY, KPMG, PwC, BDO and Grant Thornton in December 2021. Sharon Spice, director, Global Marketing, Brand and Belonging, ICAEW, said: “We’re delighted to welcome our new partners to the Rise programme. Their contribution will make a real difference to young people, especially those who have had to play catch up on their studies after their education was impacted by the pandemic. “Rise has already had a tangible impact on young people’s lives, so we are very pleased to extend the programme further and look forward to the positive difference all our new partners will make.”