Are you recruiting the best talent – or just the most connected?
Every organisation wants to attract and retain the best talent. Yet, too often, recruitment processes and early careers opportunities favour those who already know how to navigate professional environments, have influential networks or understand the unwritten rules of getting ahead. Businesses miss out on talented people and capable young people miss out on opportunities. That’s why British Land provides socially mobile internships.
The benefits go far beyond doing the right thing. We’ve seen first-hand how ring-fencing selected internship opportunities for socially mobile candidates can uncover high-potential talent, bring fresh perspectives into the business and build a stronger future talent pipeline.
A valuable tool in accessing talent
One of the biggest misconceptions about social mobility initiatives is that they’re primarily about social impact. While the social benefits are significant, they’re also a powerful way to access talent that traditional recruitment routes can miss.
By creating dedicated pathways into our organisation, we identify highly capable young people who’ve succeeded despite barriers. The benefits are immediate. Interns contribute to live projects, support business priorities and bring diversity of thought into the organisation.
Managers frequently tell us they learn as much from the interns as the interns learn from them, gaining insights into the experiences and priorities of the next generation, challenging assumptions and thinking in new ways. This supports innovation and helps us better reflect the customers, communities and partners we work with every day.
Creating vibrant, inclusive and welcoming places for our diverse customers and communities starts with having diverse people and perspectives within our own organisation.”
Breaking down barriers for young people
For socially mobile young people, internships can be transformational. They may be the first in their family to work in an office. They might be unfamiliar with the language of interviews, what to wear and how to navigate corporate workplaces. Some have never met anyone working in the property sector and are unaware of the range of careers it offers.
Internships help remove those barriers. Participants gain practical workplace experience while developing essential professional skills: communicating effectively, collaborating with colleagues and building relationships across an organisation. Through office visits, site tours and meeting different teams, interns build networks and gain a broader understanding of career pathways.
Simply spending time in a professional environment can help tackle imposter syndrome. As their confidence grows, interns begin to see themselves as belonging and capable of succeeding in the workplace. Mentoring is particularly valuable. Participants regularly seek advice on careers, university applications and future opportunities. For those without access to professional networks, these conversations can have a lasting impact.
How to create socially mobile internships
The good news is that creating more inclusive pathways into work is achievable for organisations of all sizes. The first thing to remember is that ring-fencing opportunities doesn’t mean ignoring ability. It’s about widening access to talented candidates who may otherwise be overlooked.
One effective approach is to partner with organisations that work directly with underrepresented young people. These organisations can support outreach, candidate identification and preparation, helping employers connect with talented individuals who may never otherwise apply.
British Land has a long-standing partnership with social mobility charity Career Ready, initially through volunteering and then ring-fencing internship opportunities specifically for students on its programme. The number of places varies each year, depending on business need and budget, demonstrating how programmes can be scaled to suit different organisations.
Sector collaboration can also add value. Through the Property People Collective initiative, we work alongside industry peers to offer collaborative internship experiences. Workshops hosted by partner organisations provide interns with insights into the breadth of careers available across our sector, while expanding their professional networks. Interns can also opt to have their CVs shared across partner organisations, increasing their visibility and access to future opportunities.
We work closely with hiring managers to ensure selection is fair, inclusive and focused on potential rather than prior experience. We use an early careers recruitment platform (Rare ATS), which highlights indicators of socioeconomic background, including eligibility for free school meals, working during term time and contextual academic achievement, enabling us to recognise attainment in the context of an individual's circumstances rather than focusing on grades alone. For internships, we’ve also reduced our reliance on CVs. Instead, applicants answer short video questions such as: “Tell us about yourself,” “What interests you?” and “Describe a time you worked in a team.” These conversational questions allow candidates to demonstrate their strengths without needing professional experience.
Financial barriers should never prevent talented young people from accessing early career opportunities. That’s why all British Land internships are paid at least the real Living Wage.
Structured support before and during internships helps participants thrive. Mentors and supervisors work closely with participants, helping them navigate unfamiliar environments, build confidence, develop new skills and ask questions. This creates a platform for learning and growth.
Even one or two dedicated opportunities can make a meaningful difference. Work with expert partners, focus on potential and build from there; the benefits become clear quickly.
Where full ring-fencing isn’t possible, use tools or social mobility data within recruitment processes to identify high-potential candidates who’ve overcome barriers.
Most importantly, social mobility initiatives work best when talent, people and sustainability objectives are aligned, positioning them as a business priority rather than a standalone programme.
Part of a bigger commitment
Our social mobility internships form part of a broader approach to building a diverse, skilled and future-ready talent pipeline. Through our summer internship programme, young people from a range of backgrounds become active team members, contributing to projects across the business. Social mobility indicators are considered throughout recruitment so that opportunity is based on potential rather than background. We also run insight programmes designed to demystify careers in real estate. While not specifically ring-fenced for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, 44% of last year’s 18 participants met at least one measure of socioeconomic disadvantage. All participants were offered a fast-track route into our summer internship recruitment process.
Our social mobility internships form part of a broader approach to building a diverse, skilled and future-ready talent pipeline. Through our summer internship programme, young people from a range of backgrounds become active team members, contributing to projects across the business. Social mobility indicators are considered throughout recruitment so that opportunity is based on potential rather than background. We also run insight programmes designed to demystify careers in real estate. While not specifically ring-fenced for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, 44% of last year’s 18 participants met at least one measure of socioeconomic disadvantage. All participants were offered a fast-track route into our summer internship recruitment process.
At British Land, we’ve seen first-hand that widening access is not an act of charity; it’s a way of finding exceptional people, strengthening our workforce and building a more inclusive future for our industry.
The results speak for themselves
Managers regularly highlight the value interns add:
Our intern consistently impressed us. She approached every task with energy and curiosity, quickly becoming a valued member of the team. She also showed a remarkable ability to pick up complex concepts with speed. Her adaptability and eagerness to learn were evident. A pleasure to work with. She made a lasting impression.”
Interns are equally positive:
An incredibly rewarding experience that gave me valuable insight into the commercial real estate industry. I worked alongside talented and ambitious individuals on impactful projects. Coming from a non-real estate background, it was a great opportunity. I thoroughly enjoyed the collaborative and inviting culture.”