Creating pathways for social mobility – listen to the discussion

Seminar / 12 June 2025

To celebrate Social Mobility Day on June 12th 2025, Real Estate Balance partnered with Savills Investment Management and the speakers below on a well-attended breakfast event to discuss how real estate and its associate sectors can be a powerful driver of social mobility in the communities where we operate.

Jo Davis - Principal, Managing Director of Place and UK Executive Chair at Avison Young and Chair of Real Estate Balance

Joey Aoun - Net Zero and Sustainability Lead, ESG, Savills IM

Jo Dancy – Director, Regions, Kanda Consulting.

Annelise Sauter – Impact, ESG and EDI Director, Better Society Capital

Sam Monger - Head of Place-based Impact Investing, The Good Economy

The conversation covered a number of topics, including:

  • The link between secure housing to educational and employment opportunities and a broader sense of pride and purpose. 
  • Real estate’s role in creating better places to live, work and learn.
  • Persistent regional inequalities and the profession’s limited visibility among underrepresented groups, with reference to Real Estate Balance research and the Sutton Trust Opportunity Index as data-driven tools to focus action.
  • Planning processes and funding aligning with community needs.
  • Framing projects around social impact - such as affordable homes near transport hubs – and building trust between developers and communities.
  • Public-private partnerships and place-based coalitions and delivering long-term social outcomes.
  • Regulatory barriers and changes relating to local governments and pension funds.
  • Access and apprenticeships.

The panellists also answered questions from attendees on subjects including resiliency and futureproofing in the fund lifecycle.

Thank you to Savills Investment Management and to everyone who came along and contributed to the discussion, and to Jo, Joey, Jo, Annelise and Sam for sharing their expertise and insights.