It has been another impactful year for us at the Trust, with many important pieces of research produced and thousands of students supported through our life-changing programmes. Our CEO, Nick Harrison, gives a short overview of our activities this year.

It’s a privilege to have joined the Sutton Trust earlier this year as CEO, and I write this having passed my first six months in the organisation.

I see lack of social mobility as one of the biggest problems facing the UK, and I joined the Trust because of its reputation as a leader in the field – both in direct impact, and for wider research and policy influence.  

Over the last six months I’ve got to know the team; visited programmes; engaged with our research; and met many funders, board members, alumni, corporate partners, universities, and others in the sector. 

This process has highlighted the strengths of the Trust, and the depth of impact we’ve already delivered over our 26-year history. It has also underlined the ongoing need for our work. 

I’m pleased to say that we helped a record number of student beneficiaries this year – over 10,500 in total – across summer schools, employability focused ‘pathways’ programmes, Sutton Trust Online, and post-18 programming.  

It has also been another successful year for our research work, and as ever we’ve published a diverse set of reports: From our work looking at the effect of the cost of living crisis on school budgets as well as university students spending, to a hard-hitting analysis over the summer highlighting the growing attainment gap between disadvantaged and better off pupils. Of course, we are also using our research outputs in our advocacy work, with both government and opposition. 

I would like to use this opportunity to thank our team for all the hard work which has gone into this delivery – across all aspects of what we do.  

Of course, none of this work would be possible without the generous support – both financial and more broadly – of our donors and our board. Individuals, trusts & foundations, and corporates all contribute to our work at the Sutton Trust, and we are hugely grateful for all that they give.  

Looking forward, there are many areas in which we can continue to grow our impact, and we will be working on some of these next year. Moreover, with a general election coming, we are also focused on redoubling our policy and advocacy work, to maximise our influence through the election cycle itself, and also as any new government develops its social mobility and education agenda.  

Let me finish by wishing everyone a Happy Christmas, and good luck for the start of 2024.