Former MP calls on hospitality industry to follow Compass’ lead in providing social mobility

Former Conservative MP and social activist Justine Greening has called on hospitality operators to follow Compass’ lead and put social mobility at the heart of their employment policy.

Greening spoke to the catering company's apprentices at the HRC show at London's Excel earlier this week, ahead of creating a case study of the firm’s initiatives to develop young talent that she aims to unveil in May.

The foodservice giant is one of over 500 organisations that have signed up to the Social Mobility Pledge, a campaign founded by Greening, to encourage businesses to improve their employment procedures so people from diverse backgrounds have fairer opportunities to be hired and promoted.

Greening said businesses needed to strategically examine how they can create a level playing field of opportunity that will help to deliver social change.

She explained: “I think there’s a lot that other companies can learn from Compass. It has shown leadership in being prepared to work with us and showcase what we’re doing. Which I think gives it a real edge as a business because clearly, it is able to reach out into a much wider talent pool and of course, in terms of retention and performance all adds up to great teams hopefully doing a great job.”

Compass signed up to the Social Mobility Pledge in September last year, the first large company in the hospitality sector to do so. It employs over 60,000 people in the UK.

Compass chief people officer Donna Catley said: “We wanted to do something and are big enough to support an initiative like this. We’ve not even started yet and want to be even bolder.”