Progress Together has launched a new sector‑wide campaign calling on financial services firms to make career progression pathways clearer, fairer and more visible for employees from all socio‑economic backgrounds.
The initiative, Making the Invisible Visible, aims to help employers identify the barriers that prevent talented people from progressing, and to encourage firms to share practical actions that improve sponsorship, representation and leadership visibility.
Progress Together — the not‑for‑profit body created following the government’s taskforce on socio‑economic diversity in financial services — says new evidence shows that background continues to influence how leadership potential is perceived across the industry. Its latest benchmarking, covering more than 210,000 employees, found that high‑performing staff from lower socio‑economic backgrounds progress more slowly into senior roles despite equivalent job performance.
Sophie Hulm, Chief Executive of Progress Together, said the campaign is designed to surface barriers that “too often remain unseen, unspoken and unmeasured”.
Alderman Vincent Keaveny CBE, Chair of Progress Together, said widening progression pathways is essential to developing future leadership pipelines.
Sheree Howard, Executive Director at the Financial Conduct Authority, said inclusive progression supports stronger governance and decision‑making as firms undergo rapid technological and workforce change.
Senior leaders from Aon, St. James’s Place and others also backed the campaign.
Jane Kielty, UK CEO of Aon, said visible pathways and active sponsorship “strengthen leadership teams and improve long‑term performance”.
Justin Onuekwusi, Chief Investment Officer at St. James’s Place, said representation “strengthens aspiration, trust and performance across the sector”.
Baroness Mary Goudie said too much talent remains “unseen, unheard or underestimated because of background rather than ability”.
The 12‑month campaign will combine research, leadership storytelling, employee voices, policy engagement and practical employer action. It will also explore how AI adoption and workforce transformation are reshaping future leadership pipelines.
Progress Together is inviting firms to contribute examples of what works, alongside insights from employees at all levels.
Major organisations engaged in the launch activity include the FCA, Bank of England, Aon, AXA, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bloomberg, HSBC UK, NatWest, Deutsche Bank, Santander, Mastercard, Mizuho, Fidelity International and Standard Chartered.
Rhotic Media, publisher of Financial Promoter, was recently recognised with a King’s Award for Enterprise for its work promoting opportunity across financial services.