Progress Together was formed in 2022 following a Government-backed taskforce commissioned by HM Treasury and the Department for Business.
The taskforce identified a clear gap: while firms were making progress on entry-level diversity, career progression and retention were being overlooked. There was also no shared space for financial services firms to learn from each other on this challenge.
Progress Together was created to address both, equipping employers with the insight, tools and data needed to drive meaningful, measurable change.
Mission and Purpose
Our mission is to ensure that progression in financial services is determined by capability, not background.
Too many talented individuals are held back by structural barriers, not performance. Progress Together exists to change that, by challenging outdated norms, removing barriers to visibility and opportunity, and helping organisations build stronger, more effective leadership pipelines.
We bring evidence, urgency and practical solutions together so that firms can act with confidence and change happens at pace. By combining data, insight and a collective voice, we help ensure this issue is not only understood, but prioritised by industry leaders, policymakers and regulators.
Why socio-economic diversity matters
Socio-economic diversity is often framed as a moral imperative. It is also a clear business priority.
When progression is shaped by background rather than performance, high-performing individuals are overlooked, talent goes underutilised and organisations lose capability they already have. This is inefficient, avoidable and a strategic risk that too few firms have fully reckoned with.
The reverse is equally true. Firms that draw on a wider range of experiences, perspectives and problem-solving approaches make better decisions, drive stronger innovation and better understand the customers they serve. A sector that reflects the diversity of those it serves is not just fairer – it is better positioned to deliver long-term performance.
Our Approach
- Data-led insightWe ground our work in real socio-economic data, helping firms understand where barriers exist and measure progress over time.
- Collective actionWe bring firms together to share challenges, test solutions and learn from one another faster than any organisation could alone.
- Practical implementationWe translate insight into tools, guidance and programmes that firms can apply directly to drive change.
- Trusted partnerWorking alongside firms to strengthen practice, build capability and deliver measurable outcomes on socio-economic inclusion.
- Sector convenerBringing together industry leaders, policymakers and regulators to shape the conditions for lasting systemic change.
- The outcomeA financial services sector where talent is recognised on performance, progression is accessible, and socio-economic background is no longer a barrier to leadership.
