A timely event, the SRAG (Social Recruitment Advocacy Group) Summer Summit held at Bedford College earlier this month was all about “Addressing the Employment Readiness Gap”.
With an agenda focused on promoting social mobility, improving workforce readiness, and supporting inclusive employment practices, it was an inspiring and collaborative day for all the public, private and third-sector partners that attended to demonstrate their commitment to making a real difference.
Pippa Pang attended on our behalf and enjoyed the opportunity to network and learn from others who are driving forward meaningful social value work.
Pippa comments: “It was fantastic to be part of the SRAG event. I was particularly proud to see Sureserve awarded the Gold Charter Mark at the awards ceremony. It marks a commitment to inclusive recruitment and social value and acknowledges an ability to measure and share the impact of our work. Emma Nicklin was presented the award, and I was so pleased to get the chance to connect with her to share perspectives and discuss our shared commitment to social impact and collaborative partnerships in action.”
An action-packed agenda
The summit began with a warm welcome from Rt Hon Anne Milton, who shared what’s been happening across SRAG since the last summit, followed by Robin Webber-Jones, Principal of Tresham College, part of Bedford College Group. The event encouraged open conversations from the outset, with attendees invited to introduce themselves and their organisations in a relaxed and engaging “get to know your table” session.
One of the most powerful discussions of the morning was the panel titled “Future-Ready Bedford: Building a Workforce for Tomorrow’s Economy”. Co-chaired by Anne Milton and Laura Savage, this session brought together key voices including Patrick Lyons from Bedford Borough Council and Niamh Macaskill from West Rail. They discussed the vital importance of ensuring young people and marginalised groups, including those with SEND or care leaver backgrounds, are not left behind as new development opportunities arise across Bedford and beyond.
A standout session came from Marina Cadman (PeoplePlus) and Lara Watson (Unipart), who gave a compelling employer talk on the importance of co-designing positive mental health strategies in the workplace. They made the case for creating healthy work cultures through open dialogue and trust, showing how this approach can drive better outcomes both for employees and the wider community.
The morning concluded with a dynamic session on the Charter Mark, exploring what has worked well so far across the four pillars of Recruit, Retain, Develop and Connecting with the Community. Attendees shared examples of best practice, reflected on areas for improvement, and developed plans to increase social value impact within their organisations.
We are proud to be part of a growing network of like-minded organisations who are championing inclusive employment, social mobility and community connection. Events like the SRAG Summer Summit are a great reminder that by working together, we can create real change and unlock opportunities for those who need them most.
Thank you to Pippa for representing us and for bringing back such valuable insights.
See all event photographs:
