The Mission to a Million commitment will see Compass provide support to one million people, from both within and outside of the organisation, by 2030.
The opportunities include providing work through skill development, promoting healthy eating habits for the next generation and the launch of the Compass Group Academy which is set to open next year.
Robin Mills, managing director of Compass Group UK & I, said: “As an employer of around 45,000 people, we know that we have the ability to make a real difference not only to the lives of our own employees, but also the communities in which we serve. Hospitality is well placed to bring down barriers that exist in relation to social mobility. You can join the industry and be trained on the job.
“We are committed to investing in our employees and also working to support disadvantaged groups. I passionately believe that whatever your background, you should have the opportunity to progress and build a career. I believe our programme is a significant step forward to achieve this.”
Compass has also committed to ambitious gender, ethnicity and the industry’s first socio-economic representation targets. These targets are set for the executive and leadership team, middle management, junior management and frontline workers.
The firm is targeting a 50:50 gender split by 2025, while 14% of its employees will be from an ethnic minority background (5% of whom will be Black) by 2027. Two fifths (40%) of its employees will come from a lower socio-economic background by 2030. Compass has committed to increasing support, education and placements for people with disabilities.
Sarah Atkinson, chief executive of The Social Mobility Foundation, added: “It is excellent to see Compass Group launch their social mobility strategy and outline their plans to create opportunities for so many people right across the UK.
“I particularly welcome the commitment to setting targets for socio-economic representation at different levels in the business - demonstrating a focus not just on who gets in, but also who gets on. I hope the lead that Compass Group is taking acts as a catalyst for others.”
