Introduction
Born Social is a dynamic, fast-growing global creative agency committed to fostering an inclusive environment through its ‘Consciously Contribute’ programme. Recognising the unique challenges faced by individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds in the creative industry, Born Social had been proactive in addressing issues of inclusion and belonging. Feedback from employees – such as remarks about accents – had highlighted subtle barriers that can hinder a truly inclusive environment. Determined to spark an open conversation about social backgrounds, social mobility, and even accent bias, Born Social partnered with Ladder Consulting. This collaboration provided the essential context and expertise needed to design a bespoke 90-minute interactive session that would address these issues head-on.
The Workshop
Ladder Consulting developed a hybrid workshop titled “Unlocking Social Mobility at Born Social,” tailored to meet the needs of employees across Born Social’s London and Shrewsbury offices. The session was crafted to be informative and interactive, ensuring that every participant – whether joining in person or online – could actively contribute and learn. The workshop began by breaking down the complex concepts of social mobility and socioeconomic diversity, setting a solid foundation for understanding the broader challenges within the creative industry. With a special focus on accent bias, the session delved into real-life scenarios and interactive exercises that allowed participants to explore how subtle prejudices can impact workplace inclusion. This thoughtful approach not only built awareness but also empowered attendees to think critically about the changes needed to enhance social mobility within the agency.
The Impact
The workshop received exceptional feedback from the Born Social team, with every participant reporting that the session significantly deepened their understanding of social mobility and inspired them to advocate for change. Participants particularly valued the interactive design, which made complex topics accessible and fostered lively, meaningful discussion. The HR team at Born Social was thrilled with the positive response and recognised the workshop as a pivotal step towards a more awareness about how socioeconomic factors can influence professional experiences. Buoyed by the success of this project, Born Social is eager to continue its collaboration with Ladder Consulting, planning further projects to embed social mobility into the core of its operations and to champion diversity across all levels of the organisation.
"The presenters were really engaging. I enjoyed the fact that the session was broken up with exercises in order to keep us engaged and thinking!" – participant
