Role models inspire young people to aspire

Role models have a duty to raise aspirations among teenagers who might otherwise have limited access to good jobs. Social realities underline the need to widen access to role models for young people. For example, many ethnic minorities are radically under-represented in senior executive posts in the British economy.

The National Mentoring Consortium, based at the University of East London, has rallied the support of more than 500 employers across the UK to take part in its Ethnic Minority Undergraduate Scheme. The scheme provides students with successful business mentors from a range of social backgrounds to help increase the employability of black and Asian students and promote diversity in the workplace. It aims to boost the career prospects of these groups and provide practical support to facilitate success in some of the most competitive professions, such as banking and law.