PA Consulting picks up award at 2024 British Diversity Awards

UK-headquartered advisory firm PA Consulting has won the Social Mobility Initiative of the Year prize at the British Diversity Awards. The 2024 ceremony celebrated organisations promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in their operations.

Jack McMahon, head of communities at PA Consulting, commented, “We are delighted to win Social Mobility Initiative of the Year at the British Diversity Awards. This award reflects PA’s commitment to building a fair society and breaking down barriers for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. We are proud of what we have accomplished so far and grateful to The PA Foundation, our volunteers and teams that have enabled us to achieve this. We look forward to continuing to improve social mobility through the power of innovation.”

Operating globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands, PA Consulting hosts more than 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. The firm helps clients in manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport – working to overcome the most pressing design and strategy challenges they face.

PA was awarded Social Mobility Initiative of the Year for its commitment to social mobility issues, which it demonstrated through its new ‘PA in the Community’ programme. It operates the scheme in partnership with The PA Foundation, an independent charity launched by PA in 2022.

‘PA in the Community’ focuses predominantly on STEM and supports individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to excel in education, hone crucial employability skills, and access meaningful employment opportunities. Meanwhile, other achievements in partnership with The PA Foundation in 2023 include: £2 million distributed to 32 charities and non-profits funded across the UK, US, Nordics and Netherlands; more than 21,000 hours volunteered; and supporting 9,300 people facing disadvantage.

The British Diversity Awards celebrates leading organisations and individuals championing diversity across the UK. The Social Mobility Initiative of the Year category recognises those whose commitment to social mobility is a business imperative that sets them apart. A panel of experts from business, charity, politics and the public sector, reviewed the finalists and selected the winners based on a specific set of criteria.

Anita Chandraker, Chair of The PA Foundation, added, “This recognition from the British Diversity Awards is testament to the impactful work PA is doing to improve socio-economic outcomes. At The PA Foundation, we believe that everyone, regardless of their background, deserve the chance to fulfil their potential and access opportunities that enable them to succeed. We hope this award will inspire other organisations to join us in driving social change and opening doors for disadvantaged individuals.”