The government has set out a £1bn package to help pupils in England catch up on teaching missed during the coronavirus lockdown in a boost for the opportunity agenda.

Under the plan primary and secondary schools will be given £650m to spend on one-to-one or group tuition for any pupils they think need it. In addition a £350m programme will be set up to give the most disadvantaged pupils access to tutors over the next academic year.

Half of all UK workers are bracing themselves for redundancy in the fallout of COVID-19, while most believe the pandemic will destroy opportunities for young people.

Parts of the Midlands and East Anglia will be worst affected by a double blow of low social mobility and high economic decline caused by COVID-19.

That is according to a new study which has analysed data in every constituency to calculate the size of the ‘opportunity gap’: the gulf which exists in many parts of the country between those living there compared with the local opportunities for their talents to be realised.

Businesses have already been a real force for good during the coronavirus crisis. Now they can play a real leadership role through the coming challenging months ahead as Britain deals with its aftermath. There will be difficult days ahead, that’s inevitable, but how we respond to the challenges is a choice we can make.

A levelled up Britain needs its children getting back to school. Everyone understands that needs to be done safely, but it’s vital that those most disadvantaged by the school shutdown are prioritised first.

We’re so ‘deep’ into lockdown it’s hard to look too far ahead, and the economic outlook also looks bleak. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said this week that the country is in the middle of what is likely to be a significant recession.

Businesses across the UK, indeed the world, are mobilising to help steer a path through the biggest crisis for generations

Education can be the great levelling force in our society, yet for weeks our schools have been shut because of coronavirus, so the education gaps that already needed to be narrowed are growing wider by the day.

I have been extremely fortunate that my choices in life delivered me to where I am and I have travelled from the mining village of Ferryhill to be a Member of Parliament. I explain below a little of the route but the important thing is the use of the opportunity I have been given.

Through my involvement with the Social Mobility Pledge since Shoosmiths became signatories in 2018 (and now the C-19 Pledge), and as a member of the BITC West Midlands Advisory Board, I have become aware of many nuances to successful engagement with communities across the UK.

Drax Group invests £200,000 in almost 700 laptops for partner schools local to its operations in England and Scotland to keep students connected during lockdown.

For too many people, where you start in life still shapes the opportunities you get and where you end up. This opportunity deficit overwhelmingly impacts people from more disadvantaged communities and backgrounds and the gaps start opening up from the very start.

Founded by former UK Cabinet Minister, Rt Hon. Justine Greening, and UK entrepreneur David Harrison, the C-19 Business Pledge aims to harness the power of business as a force for good in tackling the Coronavirus epidemic.

Back in 2014 the world faced a struggle with another fatal and highly contagious virus that initially felt out of control – Ebola.

The benefits of social mobility are usually articulated from the individual’s point of view.

They are the ones who, in being able to fulfil their potential unhindered by unfairness, can talk about a personal experience of social mobility and their journey in life.

Since the Prime Minister’s election victory in December, Boris Johnson has promised to “level up” the UK and narrow the regional inequalities that exist throughout the country.

I had the fantastic opportunity to talk to Prince William and UK business leaders about social mobility this week.

We were all guests of building materials group Tarmac, celebrating the official opening of its impressive new training centre in Nottinghamshire.

Since our founding in the heart of York in 1841, our socially conscious commitment and mission has always been to ensure that students from all walks of life are supported and inspired to reach their full potential.

Greater collaboration between businesses, government, the education sector and communities is needed to open up the legal sector to more people from different socio economic backgrounds.