Debrett's 500 2015

Britain’s 500 most influential people by Debrett’s

For almost 250 years Debrett’s has been recognising people of influence and achievement in British society. Beginning in 1769 with the Peerage it later expanded to include People of Today, which has developed into a network of over 22,000 people across all walks of life.

The Debrett’s 500 is a positive endorsement and recognition of Britain’s 500 most influential people. It has been carefully compiled by independent panels of specialists in each field who provided nominations for selection to Debrett’s. It is a truly inspiring group of people.

Debrett’s combined last year's launch and celebration of the 500 with the launch of Debrett’s Foundation, which was established to support, champion and inspire social mobility to ensure that the next generation of leaders, the ‘People of Tomorrow’, from all walks of life, are from all backgrounds. Since then, over 100 students of sixth-form age have benefited from the Debrett's Foundation.

Debrett’s recently expanded its etiquette coaching to include ‘Business Etiquette’ classes delivered to young people preparing themselves for the workplace. This was in response to demands from Business Leaders who in a recent survey cited social skills as the key differentiator for graduates applying for their first job, but also cited them as the skills most often lacking in the applicants they interviewed.

Figures published in 2013 revealed that 60.4% of students from fee-paying schools gained a graduate job – a skilled career – compared with just 46.8% of other graduates. The study – led by researchers at Bristol University and the University of the West of England – found that wealthier students were ‘far more able to draw upon family resources and had access to influential social networks’ to help get work experience or internships during their degree. A recent study, by High Fliers Research, says 37% of this year's entry-level positions are set to be taken by people who have already worked with the organisation in some capacity.

Debrett’s is uniquely positioned to help address these issues and has therefore decided to create a not-for-profit Foundation. The Foundation delivers training to strong academic achievers from less privileged backgrounds in skills such as interviewing and networking to help provide the social skills and confidence to network and gain internships and work experience. The Foundation will also seek, through those who volunteer their support, to provide access to internship and work experience opportunities through the networks that the Debrett’s 500 and the Debrett’s People of Today can offer. This will ensure that these young people have equal opportunity, regardless of background, to succeed and influence Britain’s future.

Should anyone wish to contact to Debrett’s to offer support to the Foundation, please email debrettsfoundation@debretts.co.uk