CLIMBING the career ladder is tough enough but when you’re working class, it can be even harder.

According to the Government’s Social Mobility Commission, adults with working-class parents are three times as likely to be in a working-class occupation compared to people with professional parents.

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Despite 48 per cent of UK adults considering themselves to be working class, half of big-name firms do not actively seek out working-class talent — but for those who do, the rewards can be exceptional.

When a person works their way up to have a higher income or higher status of job than their parents, it’s known as “upward social mobility”.

According to campaign group the Sutton Trust, enhancing social mobility within UK firms to match the average Western European level could lead to a nine per cent boost in GDP, equivalent to £2,620 per person, or a total of £170billion added to the UK economy annually.

This week sees the annual SOMO Awards — known as the UK’s “social mobility Oscars” — which celebrate employers helping working-class people fulfil their career potential.

Set up by charity Making The Leap, this year the awards cover firms employing close to 1.3million people representing 20 business sectors.

While finance, law and professional services make up almost half of entries, there has been a big rise in submissions from the creative and media sectors, plus local authority and Government.

Londoner Kevin Sterling faced dozens of job rejections until he signed up for Making The Leap’s social mobility programme.

Kevin, 23, now works as an engineer for Sky, and says: “Before taking the course, it felt like I was stuck in limbo with no end in sight, and got rejection after rejection. I was at my wits’ end.

“With Making The Leap I took part in activities including networking and mock interviews, which really helped, and I learned how to evaluate myself.

“I’d always been focused on the future, never taking the time to reflect on how far I’ve come, what I’m lacking, and how I can turn my weaknesses into strengths.”

Tunde Banjoko, from Making The Leap, said: “By adopting social mobility initiatives, organisations demonstrate to their staff and customers that they are committed to creating an inclusive workplace while helping to unlock the full potential of talent from all walks of life in society.”

Firms including Sky, Linklaters, Nationwide, KPMG and PWC have all entered and the awards are open to organisations of all sizes.

A Nationwide spokeswoman said: “We believe the circumstances of a person’s birth shouldn’t determine their outcomes in life. We are dedicated to equitable progression.”

Find out more at somo.uk

TIPS FOR CAREER YOU WANT

COMPETITION to secure a job is at its fiercest in three years, so how to stand out?

Here Jan Hendrik von Ahlen, from Jobleads.com, shares his tips on securing the job you want.

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Network, Network, Network: Successful networking is all about building relationships.

Reach out to people in your field with a simple message, like asking for advice or sharing something interesting. Be authentic, follow up, stay in touch and help when you can.

Join a club: Many UK cities have networking groups and business clubs. Chamber of Commerce groups and Business Network International also host events.

These gatherings are great for building connections.

Customise Applications: Read the job description thoroughly and focus on skills and experiences that match what the employer is after.

If you have limited experience, showcase your transferable skills on your CV.

Build a professional Online Presence: Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date with your skills, experiences, and career goals and follow industry trends.

Keep Learning: The job market is always changing, so keep your skills up to date. Take online courses and attend workshops. Showing potential employers you’re committed to growth can make you a more attractive candidate.

Stay Positive, Be Persistent: Every rejection is a step closer to the right opportunity. Keep applying, and don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. Persistence will pay off in the end.

OCTOBER BLUES?

FORGET the January blues, October is the month when we are ill the most.

Figures from BrightHR show while one third of all sickness occurs in the last three months of the year, it’s October when staff most frequently call in sick.

Typically, October illness rates are 122 per cent above the monthly average, with a 157 per cent spike in flu cases and 164 per cent leap in common cold cases. Mental health-related absences rise by 112 per cent, the highest of any month.

Alan Price, chief executive at BrightHR, said: “Encouraging a culture of openness where employees feel comfortable discussing their health, and reminding employees of any support in place . . . can also make a significant difference.”

DITCH the booze this month to help save some cash and get a clear head in the run-up to Christmas.

Sober October is a campaign backed by Macmillan Cancer Support — and you can sign up to join in the challenge at gosober.org.uk.

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Then try these easy ideas for alcohol-free drinks to see you through to November . . . 

HOT ROSIE: Add hot water to rosemary cordial, which you can make from the Tesco recipe below, for a hot toddy perfect for autumn.

To make the cordial, put the zest and juice from two lemons and a grapefruit into a pan.

Get a handful of rosemary sprigs and strip the leaves into the pan along with 60g of fresh, sliced ginger, 150g of sugar and 250ml of water.

Stir on a medium heat until the sugar dissolves, then reduce the heat to low, stirring for around 15 minutes until it is thicker and fragrant.

Strain through a sieve and keep in a storage bottle. You’ll need two tablespoons of the cordial added to a cup of hot water to create your toddy.

FAUX G&T: If you love a gin and tonic, try an alcohol-free version of the spirit such as Tanqueray 0.0% and Flor de Sevilla 0.0%, both down to £15 from £17 at Sainsbury’s with a Nectar card.

Selected Fever-Tree tonics are down from £2.10 to £1.80 for 500ml with a Clubcard at Tesco. Try the Spanish clementine flavour with the Flor de Sevilla 0.0% for a lovely fruity drink.

Or the elderflower tonic goes well with the standard Tanqueray 0.0%.

MULLED APPLE JUICE: Swap mulled cider for apple juice and embrace autumn without the booze.

You need to simmer a litre of apple juice with a stick of cinnamon, two or three cloves and orange peel to create the perfect seasonal drink.

If you prefer it sweeter, then just add a couple of spoonfuls of sugar.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.

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WETHERSPOONS is being sued for more than £200,000 after a drinker fell to his death from a second-floor window.

The pub chain faces action from the partner of Callum McKeon, who tumbled from an upstairs flat used for storage while looking for a toilet.

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It is accused of negligence and breach of statutory duty by his partner, Chloe Fletcher-Langley in her High Court action.

The case follows an inquest which heard a drunk Mr McKeon, 24, was trying to get into the Golden Lion in New-market, Cambs, after a stag do in June 2021.

The dad of three was turned away but went looking for the toilet and staggered into the second-floor flat, where he fell from a window.

A coroner ruled his being able to reach an off-limits area contributed to his death.

Speaking after the inquest into his death, Mr McKeon’s mother Tina Bedford said she hoped that lessons would be learned.

She said: “Callum was a loving son, brother, father, and partner, and is sorely missed by everyone who knew him.

“He was always happy and cheerful, and would have done anything for his three kids, Olivia, Ronnie and Frankie.

“He’d enjoyed a day socialising with his family and friends, and the night shouldn’t have ended like that. If Callum hadn’t been able to access that room, that night, he’d still be with us.

“Callum was loved by so many and his memory will live on.

“What happened that day could have been prevented with some simple steps to stop Callum ending up where he did.

“We just hope that there will be lessons learned, and that another family won’t have to go through what we have had to. We will miss him so much every single day.”

The Sun contacted Wetherspoons for comment.

THE Bank of England could be “more aggressive” in cutting interest rates, Governor Andrew Bailey has said.

He claimed that if inflation continues to be held in check then the Bank could “be more activist” in lowering rates.

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The news will be a boost to borrowers and particularly the 1.6million homeowners who need to remortgage later this year.

Last month Mr Bailey had suggested the opposite when saying that interest rates would fall “gradually”.

Money markets now have a near 100 per cent bet that the Bank will cut rates from the current five per cent to 4.75 per cent at its meeting next month.

However, the Pound fell sharply yesterday — with its biggest one-day slump in 18 months — following Mr Bailey’s comments to The Guardian.

It slipped 1.08 per cent against the dollar to $1.31, while dropping by 0.96 per cent against the euro to €1.19.

Valentin Marinov, head of Group-of-10 FX strategy at Credit Agricole, said: “The best days of the pound rally may be behind us.”

A LOTTERY winner who scooped a staggering £450,000 says it ruined her life.

The woman became bombarded by her family members who wanted a chunk of her cash.

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She explained how what first started as a dream come true became a living nightmare.

“I never thought winning the lottery would be anything other than a dream come true,” she wrote on Reddit.

“But here I am, with more money than I ever imagined, and it feels like my life is falling apart.”

Her troubles first started with her boyfriend, who took it upon himself to decide what they would do with the cash.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes—I had won £450,000. At first, I was in shock. I called my boyfriend, James, and he rushed over, equally ecstatic.

“We were both over the moon, dreaming of what we could do with the money. But the dream quickly turned into a nightmare.”

She said James wanted to quit his job, buy a luxury car and invest in ‘risky’ ventures.

“When I suggested we take things slow and maybe talk to a financial advisor, he got defensive. He accused me of not trusting him and said I was trying to control everything,” she explained.

She won the staggering amount of money after buying a lottery ticket on a whim.

It wasn’t until she saw the number draw on TV and realised she’d won.

The woman added: “Then my family got involved. My parents, who I’ve always had a strained relationship with, suddenly wanted to reconnect.

“They started dropping hints about their financial struggles and how they could use some help.”

After having issues with her parents, her sister also wanted a share of the winnings.

“My sister, who’s always been jealous of me, outright demanded a share, saying she deserved it for all the times she ‘supported’ me. It felt like they were all looking at me differently, like I was just a bank to them now.”

Her boyfriend started to distance himself from her and they eventually split up.

The lottery winner said that when he moved out, he took some of the money with him as a “parting gift”.

At the time, her parents became “more aggressive” in their demands for the cash.

Her mum and dad believed they were entitled to her winnings because they’d raised her.

“My sister called me greedy and accused me of abandoning my family. I felt trapped and overwhelmed, unable to make anyone happy,” the woman added.

“I’m alone with my fortune, but I’ve never felt poorer. My family is barely speaking to me, and I’ve lost someone I thought I’d spend my life with.

“I’ve hired a financial advisor and a therapist to help me navigate this new reality, but the emotional toll is immense.”

THE Range is slashing the price of a bestselling gadget that is perfect for drying clothes this winter.

Shoppers at the discount store can now save £35 on the regular cost of this 3-Tier Tower Heated Airer, which is now £59.99.

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Rather than switching on your central heating or using your tumble dryer for your washing when the weather’s bad, simply hang in on the airer. 

“Now we’re talking,” said one eager shopper, replying to a social media post from the company.

“Need to invest in one,” said another.

Heated airers are more popular than ever and in previous winters have flown off the shelves as shoppers try to find ways to deal with increases in the cost of living and energy bills.

They look like regular airers but have heated bars to dry clothes quicker.

This 3 Tier version has a generous 21m of drying space so is large enough for a family load and it will save you a fortune. 

For every hour of use the 300W heated airer will cost around 7p, compared with around 61p for your tumble dryer.

Handily, it also folds down when not in use, which is handy for storage and at 5kg, it’s not too heavy to put up and take down.

This is not the only heated airer deal we’ve seen this past few weeks. Aldi brought back its massively popular heated airer which quickly sold out, while Lidl stocked the Addis heater airer – though this is smaller, holding just 10kg laundry.

Currently, Wilko has a Black & Decker heated airer on offer for £92, down from £149, while Lakeland has cut the price of its Dry Soon heated airer and cover bundles by £50, so they now start from £174.99.

Before buying a heated airer always take into account the size of your room – you don’t want to be overwhelmed by an airer that is far too big for the space.

It’s also worth comparing prices from several retailers, taking into account how much wet washing the airer can hold as well as the amount of electricity it consumes per hour.

Shopping around will save you money so using online tools that compare prices is a great idea.

Take a look at Google Shopping and Price Spy to check prices across the web from a variety of retailers, such as Argos, Amazon and eBay.

When ordering online don’t forget to take delivery costs into account and avoid a shock at checkout.

Many retailers offer free delivery when you spend over a certain amount, but not all do.

Ways to save this winter

Heated airers are a great way to save money when you can’t dry your clothes outdoors, but they’re not the only gadget you should seriously consider investing in.

Heated throws are great for keeping warm without switching on the heating. Pop one over you while you’re on the sofa watching TV, drape one over your bed – there’s even one from Lakeland you can wear. They offer several temperature levels and often have timers to automatically switch off.

Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air and when it’s drier in your home you tend to feel warmer. They can also be great for drying washing and some brands even have a laundry setting.

Air Fryers are the kitchen must-have of the last few years. They generally cook food quicker than your main oven does and in less time, using much less electricity.

Heavy or lined curtains can help keep out the cold, while draft excluders not only help keep cold air out but warm air in.

Before it gets really cold and you turn to your central heating for the winter, check to see if your radiators need bleeding. It’s a simple job whereby you use a radiator key to release any build-up of air bubbles that can stop the radiator from functioning effectively.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

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