upReach

upReach is a social mobility charity that supports undergraduates from less-advantaged backgrounds to access and sustain top graduate jobs. Their free, personalised programmes of support are carefully designed to help students understand different career pathways and to develop the skills, networks and experiences needed to succeed.

Now celebrating their tenth year, upReach has grown exponentially from the humble beginnings of supporting just 39 Associates, to having over 70 full-time staff members and supporting 3,000 Associates in 2021/22, with ambitious plans to support 4,000 annually by 2025. In 2021/22, upReach expanded its holistic, wrap-around support to students before and after university, launched a new ground-breaking tech partnership with the Hg Foundation, and facilitated over 100 exclusive work experience placements for students via the inaugural Xperience programme. Through these initiatives, upReach has empowered students from less-advantaged backgrounds to pursue some of the UK’s most prestigious professions, paving the way for a future where everyone has equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of background. In recognition of the charity’s dedication to transforming social mobility in the UK, in 2022 upReach was one of only nine organisations awarded a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the “Promoting Opportunity” category.