Social enterprise effective in opening doors for state-educated students

The 93% Club, a social enterprise that aims to open doors for state-educated students, has published its 2024 Impact Report, which details that impact of the organisation’s work on social mobility, networking, and ensuring disadvantaged students are able to secure graduate roles.

Across 53 university campuses, The 93% Club aims to break down barriers for entry for state-educated students to access their desired careers through mentoring, workshops, and career advice.

In 2024, The 93% Club, named after the proportion of UK students that are state-educated, had a membership of 16,743 students. Of these, 86 per cent of its graduating cohort secured their dream job upon graduation, with one in ten (635 students)  securing roles in top companies across law, consulting, finance, and media.

Of its members, 73 per cent are educated in state comprehensives, 54 per cent are the first to attend university in their family, and 35 per cent are eligible for free school meals. 64 per cent identify as women, 31 per cent identify as LGBTQ+, and, and 53 per cent as from an ethic minority background.

The majority of roles secured by The 93% Club members were in the legal sector (415 graduates), followed by the public sector, government, and NGOs (370 graduates), and then in finance (240) and consulting (117) sectors. 

As part of the State School Roadshow, that saw representatives discuss career opportunities to members up and down the country, 92 per cent of members reported growing their networks, making more than three new connections. This is especially key as state-educated students often cite lack of networks as a barrier to entry for accessing their desired career role.

Partnering with the Home Office, The 93% Club hosted the second cohort of their Civil Service access programme Elevant, which saw 15 virtual sessions over 11 dates offering insights into Civil Service culture, work streams, and application tips for the fast stream. Subsequently, 97 per cent said that Elevate helped them expand their professional networks, 100 per cent said that Elevate provided them with skills they will apply during their applications, and six students on the programme received either a placement or a graduate role in the Civil Service.