University of Exeter honoured for work to promote social mobility

Staff and students at the University of Exeter have been honoured for their commitment to boosting social mobility in the South West and beyond.

Exeter has been named as “highly commended” winning a Gold Award in the “University of the Year” category at the UK Social Mobility Awards.

The SOMOs recognise and encourage action that will promote and increase social mobility within Britain’s companies and institutions. The awards recognise best practice and innovation and celebrate excellence and achievement and elevate social mobility as a cause equal to the level of other diversity issues.

University of Exeter works to promote social mobility, tackle barriers to disadvantage and open up opportunities. This includes engaging with policy debates at the highest level; community-based programmes for pupils and innovations such as launching AI outreach and development for educators. The University of Exeter also leads the South West Social Mobility Commission.

Efforts to support social mobility and promote equal opportunities span widening participation, inclusive teaching and learning, research and targeted support for under-represented students, alongside a robust framework for staff inclusion and progression.

University of Exeter outreach in the South West supported over 24,000 students from 100 schools during 2025. This included fair access and progression schemes and providing information, advice and guidance, subject-specific educational opportunities and tutoring both in schools, on campus and online.

Professor Lisa Roberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone at our University for working exceptionally hard to make such a valuable contribution to supporting social mobility. I am so proud of the work they do in the South West and beyond, which does so much to promote access to higher education and opportunity. I am delighted their efforts have been recognised once again by the UK Social Mobility Awards.”

Nicola Sinclair, University of Exeter Associate Director of Access, Participation and Outreach, said: “Our focus is to make sure everyone can access opportunities whatever their background and circumstances. We do this by working collaboratively with community and education partners, schools, staff, alumni, students and learners both within and outside mainstream education. We are delighted these efforts have been recognised once again by the UK Social Mobility Awards.”

The University’s largest fair access scheme, Exeter Scholars, supports more than 1,000 young people as they prepare to move on to higher education, employment or training. Evaluation shows participants achieve much higher rates in applying to university and winning places.

Community Exe, an innovative programme involving community champions, and sports, cultural, tech and leadership organisations provides educational opportunities for boys from low socio-economic backgrounds. Schemes are also in place providing tailored support for young people in care, those outside mainstream education and mature students returning to learning.

The University’s social mobility work extends nationally including schemes supporting thousands of young people from under-resourced backgrounds with educational partners such as the Sutton Trust, IntoUniversity, Reasling Opportunities, SEREN and The Elephant Group.

The number of University of Exeter entrants who have been in receipt of free school meals has increased by 65% over the last three years. Over the same period, 13,180 students meeting widening participation criteria have achieved places at Exeter.

Success for All is a University of Exeter-wide initiative designed to eliminate disparities in student outcomes, embedding inclusive practices across teaching, assessment, and student support.

The University’s Exeter Cares scheme provides support for a community of around 1,500 students who face complex personal challenges due to being in care, seeking asylum or having caring responsibilities.

The South West Social Mobility Commission produces evidence-based recommendations to improve educational and employment outcomes across the region including roll out of an Equity Score Card for schools. The Centre for Social Mobility leads research into the underlying causes of disadvantage and provides insights to help policymakers implement improvements at a national scale.