Enterprise Named Top UK Employer

Enterprise Rent-A-Car has been ranked as one of the top 10 U.K. employers on the Social Mobility Employer Index 2018.

This is the second consecutive year that Enterprise has placed among the top 10 on this list of the U.K.’s top 50 employers for social mobility that is compiled by the Social Mobility Foundation and the City of London Corporation. With more than 470 locations and 5,000 employees across the U.K., Enterprise has been recognized for working to ensure that it is accessing, nurturing, and furthering talent from all backgrounds.

The index, which is believed to be the first of its kind globally, recognizes the top U.K. employers who have taken the most action to improve social mobility in the workplace.

In the assessors’ report, Enterprise was recognized for its outreach work at schools with above average levels of free school meals and lower levels of attainment. The company was also particularly praised for having no minimum grade requirements for any of its roles and measuring progression and retention to ensure there are no barriers for those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Providing opportunities to the broadest possible talent pool to foster social mobility is a long-term strategy at Enterprise. This has resulted in many people from less advantaged backgrounds reaching senior positions. For example, 65% of Enterprise managers are first generation graduates.

In the past 12 months, Enterprise has recruited from 151 different institutions for its graduate and internship programs, with 86% of hires from non-Russell Group universities. Its employee base is deliberately recruited from all areas where branches are based.

The company also provides a growing apprenticeship program that offers an accessible route into the business for non-graduates with ongoing career progression opportunities.

Enterprise also works with external organizations, such as Bridge Builders and Girls Out Loud, to improve social mobility and employability for younger people from low income backgrounds.

The Social Mobility Employer Index is the creation of the Social Mobility Foundation and is published in partnership with the City of London Corporation. It is a voluntary and free survey that assesses employers across seven areas including the work they do with young people, their recruitment and selection processes and how people from lower income backgrounds progress within their organizations.

This year, more than 100 employers from 18 sectors, who collectively employ in excess one million people, entered the Index.

Related: University Cuts Travel Costs with Enterprise