The shortlist for the 2025 UK Social Mobility Awards (SOMOs) has been announced, with a strong showing from the financial services sector.
The SOMOs, run by social mobility charity Making The Leap, recognise organisations and individuals working to advance socio-economic inclusion in the UK workforce.
This year’s shortlist highlights the growing momentum within the finance and property sectors to deliver meaningful change – from recruitment and early careers, to progression and leadership.
Financial services firms shortlisted include:
- Lloyds Banking Group – Organisation of the Year, Social Mobility Network of the Year, Pre-Recruitment Programme of the Year, and Champion of the Year (Paul Speight)
- Knight Frank – Innovation, Champion of the Year (Chelsea Whelan), and Rising Star (Joel Cooper)
- Coventry Building Society – Leadership of the Year
- Savills – Leadership of the Year and Rising Star (Sarah Katherine Thorley)
- NatWest – Social Mobility Network of the Year
- Schroders – Recruitment Programme of the Year
- Nationwide – Progression Programme of the Year
- KPMG – Progression Programme of the Year, Community Programme
- Pemberton Asset Management – Leadership of the Year
Winners will be announced at the UK Social Mobility Awards Fundraising Gala in London on Wednesday 2nd October 2025 – a prestigious evening bringing together leaders from across sectors to celebrate progress and share best practice. The event is one of the highlights of the corporate DEI calendar, drawing significant attention from HR, CSR, and leadership teams.
Tunde Banjoko, Founder and CEO at Making The Leap, said:
“We’re really pleased to see such strong representation from the property and financial sectors this year. The work being carried out by these organisations highlights how institutions are shifting their mindsets. We’re especially pleased to see individual changemakers being recognised alongside large-scale initiatives.
“I’d strongly encourage organisations looking to build or deepen their social mobility efforts to get in touch. There are powerful opportunities to partner, learn, and lead in this space.”
The full shortlist is available here: https://www.somo.uk/news/finalists-announced-for-the-2025-uk-social-mobility-awards/
