NI Water has pledged its commitment to social inclusion by becoming the first organisation in Northern Ireland to sign up to the UK's levelling up goals.

The goals led by Rt Honourable Justine Greening are set forth to ensure equal access to opportunity for all, helping to drive social mobility in our community and "level the playing field" for opportunities.

The partnership will see NI Water produce a Levelling Up Impact Report which will highlight best practice already being shown by the organisation and identify where more can be done to level up across each of the 14 Levelling Up goals. In doing so, NI Water joins a number of leading organisations across the UK including NHS Trusts, public sector organisations, businesses and universities, in measuring their social impact against the framework goals.

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Head of Learning and Engagement at NI Water, Paula Graham said: "We are delighted to become the first company in Northern Ireland to sign up to the Levelling Up goals and partner with 'This is Purpose' to help us identify meaningful actions we can take to improve access and opportunity for all.

"Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic has changed life for all of us, it has exacerbated many of the problems relating to social inequality in the UK.  As a large public sector employer in Northern Ireland, we are in a privileged position to make a contribution in reducing inequality in our community. Assessing ourselves against the Levelling Up goals gives us the opportunity to identify where we can drive real and meaningful change for the benefit of local people regardless of their social circumstances.

"We are focusing our efforts on supporting successful school years, fair career progression, good health and wellbeing and achieving equality through diversity and inclusion.

"Signing up to the Social Mobility Pledge, the largest business campaign of its kind, is a fantastic opportunity for us to continue to put people at the core of our purpose and create a better future today."

The Social Mobility Pledge is a coalition of 550 businesses globally, as well as more than 50 universities representing almost two million students that encourages organisations to be a force for good by putting social mobility at the heart of their purpose.