Updated · National Centre for Social Research · Jun 3
upReach Lifts Graduate Earnings Odds 62% and Skilled Full-Time Jobs 44%, NatCen Evaluation Finds
Updated
Updated · National Centre for Social Research · Jun 3
upReach Lifts Graduate Earnings Odds 62% and Skilled Full-Time Jobs 44%, NatCen Evaluation Finds
1 articles · Updated · National Centre for Social Research · Jun 3
Summary
NatCen’s independent evaluation found graduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds who joined upReach had stronger early-career outcomes than comparable non-participants about 15 months after graduation.
44% more participants secured highly skilled full-time jobs—about 37% versus 25%—while 62% more earned above the UK median graduate salary, at roughly 34% versus 21%.
The gains extended to broader measures: participants were 30% more likely to be in any full-time work and 31% more likely to reach a positive graduate destination such as skilled employment or higher study.
Tech500, upReach’s technology-focused strand funded by The Hg Foundation, showed even larger gaps, including 80% higher odds of earning above the median salary and 65% higher odds of highly skilled full-time work.
The study used HESA Graduate Outcomes data for 2019–2023 English graduates and statistical weighting to match similar peers, but said it could not fully control for unobserved factors such as motivation.
Do targeted programmes distract from fixing the systemic barriers causing graduate inequality?
Is this programme truly creating success, or just selecting students already destined to succeed?
upReach Delivers Measurable Gains in Early Career Outcomes for Low-Income Graduates, Independent Report Finds
Overview
An independent evaluation by NatCen Social Research, funded by The Hg Foundation, rigorously assessed upReach’s impact on early career outcomes for graduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Using a robust comparative methodology, researchers matched upReach participants with similar graduates and analyzed national graduate data. This thorough assessment highlighted significant improvements and quantified success rates, providing clear evidence that upReach’s programs are effective in enhancing early career trajectories. The comprehensive review demonstrates upReach’s commitment to transparency and evidence-based impact, showing how targeted support can make a real difference for disadvantaged graduates.