‘Social mobility has barely changed since the 18th century’, says Debrett’s
The cliché ‘it’s not what you know but who you know’ is alive and well – and depressingly so in 21st century Britain – according to a report published by the Debrett’s Foundation.
Debrett’s – known for being the arbiter of rules for social etiquette (and publisher of the first guide for the ruling classes in 1769), launched its foundation in 2014, with the aim of ensuring high achievers from underprivileged backgrounds enter the world of work. But, in its survey of more than 5,000 people, Debrett’s found that social mobility has barely changed since the 18th century.
It finds 72 per cent of children from privileged backgrounds admitted to using family connections to secure work placements. It also found London was the top destination for 32 per cent of those that had attended private schools. This compares to only 15 per cent of underprivileged children seeking work experience in the capital.
The research found 25 per cent of all young people felt the system for getting work placements and internships in Britain was “unfair”, with 47 per cent of poorer children saying they didn’t apply for work experience in London because of the cost.
Joanne Milner, chief executive at Debrett’s, said: These findings reveal securing the right work experience placement is difficult, but considerably more so if young people don’t have the right connections.”
With one-quarter of respondents agreeing it was easier to bag a placement by having a double-barrelled surname, she added: “While nepotism isn’t any more widespread than it was in the past, it has a greater impact today. When there are so many candidates for the top graduate jobs it follows that those with the best experience have a better chance of securing them.”
According to ONS figures published last November, the average intern receives barely £100 per week, (with young men earning £20 per week more than women), making work experience increasingly unavailable to all but those with parents who can afford to support them throughout this period.
In fact Debrett’s found internships were becoming more expensive to take part in. Graduates, it found, now have to go through an average of seven placements before they land their first job. For 10 per cent of young people, the number was as high as 15 placements.
Milner said: “We don’t want Intern Britain to have a negative impact on the diversity of future leaders and people of achievement in this country.”
Debrett's findings chime with research published last November by social mobility charity, The Sutton Trust. It concluded poorer graduates are missing out on many of the better jobs in Britain because they can’t afford to take unpaid internships – a practice that continues despite it being against the law.
The Sutton Trust estimates 21,000 interns are currently not being paid at any one time, but even the government estimates the figure could be as high as 70,000. According to The Sutton Trust, a six-month internship in London would cost more than £5,500 excluding transport.