Read: Justine Greening calls for more equal employment opportunities in the North to aid Government’s levelling-up agenda
Former Education Secretary Justine Greening has warned that Boris Johnson’s government must open up equal employment opportunities to end regional inequalities.
Rotherham-born Ms Greening, the architect of the Opportunity Areas programme during her time in government, today witnessed first-hand employment opportunities being created at the University of Bradford, in her capacity as head of the Social Mobility Pledge.
Earlier this year Ms Greening, 51, who was education secretary for two years under Theresa May, launched a 14-point framework for levelling up Britain.
The focus of the framework is on driving equality of opportunity at key life stages, from early years through to careers, alongside the barriers such as the digital divide, health and infrastructure adulthood and to provide a benchmark to track progress.
One of the key goals - to open recruitment - was the latest of the goals to be discussed at a virtual seminar hosted by the University of Bradford.
Ms Greening, who was MP for Putney, in London, until December 2019, stressed the need to increase opportunities for people of "all backgrounds" in the region through transparent, accessible and open recruitment practices.
She said: "The coronavirus pandemic has widened and deepened existing inequalities and disproportionately impacted certain communities in the UK. It has made addressing social mobility and inequality of opportunity even more important.
"Ensuring that all careers and professions are open to anyone, whatever their background, is an important part of the drive to level up Britain."
Ms Greening’s call to action was echoed in the online event which was chaired by broadcaster Iain Dale with panellists including Professor Shirley Congdon, the University of Bradford Vice Chancellor and MP for Keighley Robbie Moore, who chairs the cross-party levelling up goals group in Parliament.
Read the full story in The Yorkshire Post.