The annual ranking celebrates the people, companies, and institutions driving social mobility, widening opportunity, and breaking down barriers
London, January 8th, 2026 – Award-winning artist Adele, footballer and pundit Gary Neville and singer, TV personality and author Alesha Dixon are among the honourees who have made the 2026 Social Mobility List, announced today.
They are part of a select group of 14 outstanding individuals, including journalist Amol Rajan, Lucy Rigby KC MP, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, and Dame Susan Langley DBE, who are recognised for breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for those from less advantaged backgrounds. The Movers & Shakers appear on the overall list alongside policymakers, educators and corporate leaders. They exemplify the belief that social mobility is not just about personal achievement but also about using influence, leadership, and visibility to open doors for others.
Published by social mobility charity Making The Leap, the Social Mobility List also celebrates companies and institutions leading the way to ensure a person’s background doesn’t determine their life chances. The full list of honourees will be formally launched at Mansion House in the City of London on 8 January 2026.
Every year, the Social Mobility List recognises individuals, programmes, and institutions driving fairness across education, employment, culture and community life while working hard to expand opportunities, reflecting the extensive efforts underway to make the UK a place where talent and ambition are the true measures of success.
Tunde Banjoko, Founder and CEO of Making The Leap aims to bring social mobility beyond corporate meeting rooms and into the national spotlight.
Announcing the 2026 List he said: “Social mobility is not just a corporate concern – it’s a societal issue that affects life chances for millions. The individuals and organisations highlighted on the 2026 Social Mobility List show what’s possible when opportunity is fair.”
Lady Mayor of the City of London, Dame Susan Langley, said: “People from lower socio-economic backgrounds progress more slowly in our financial and professional services sector for reasons unrelated to performance – and that simply isn’t right.
“We need people from all sorts of backgrounds, because it makes our businesses more innovative, more vibrant, and more resilient. It helps the City grow. We need to unsquare the Square Mile and show people they don’t have to fit a single mould to thrive in the City.”
Making The Leap was founded with the explicit aim of equipping young people from less-advantaged backgrounds with the skills, confidence, and outlook to succeed in the careers of their choosing. The charity is also the driving force behind several nationally recognised initiatives that have redefined the UK’s social mobility landscape.
Research from the Social Mobility Commission, published last month, shows that people from privileged backgrounds are still more likely to get professional jobs than those from less privileged backgrounds. The gap has widened from 15% in 2016 to 23% in 2025.
The launch event coincides with the publication of a magazine, available both in print and online at socialmobilitylist.com, to celebrate and amplify the voices of those making the greatest difference in social mobility across the UK. It features compelling stories that resonate with diverse audiences – from students to parents, entrepreneurs to policymakers.
Tunde added: “The List showcases positive social mobility action and initiatives which are particularly encouraging, given the pressures on diversity, equality and inclusion programmes over the last year.
“What has been less clear, to date, is the powerful role the public can play in improving social mobility. By having conversations with people at work, at home and in our communities we can take social mobility into the mainstream; inspiring young people and shifting what the country believes is possible.”