Paul Clarke, Head of External Affairs at Brightside, considers the crucial importance of social capital in determining a student’s success.

Following Brightside's joint publication with Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) of Where next for widening participation and fair access? New insights from leading thinkers, we will be publishing one essay a day from the collection over the coming weeks.

Brightside has collaborated with the Higher Education Policy Institute to publish a collection of essays by senior higher education figures entitled Where next for widening participation and fair access? New insights from leading thinkers.

The winners of Brightside's Mentoring Awards have been announced at a prestigious ceremony in London. Based around the theme of 'connections', the winners' stories showcased some of the life-changing links that are made through online mentoring.

Brightside is constantly growing and evolving. We are working with an increasingly diverse range of partners, using our expertise in online mentoring to connect ever more young people with inspirational role models, who help them to make confident and informed decisions about their future.

It’s been hard work going through over 100 inspiring entries we received, but we’re delighted to reveal the shortlist for this year’s Mentoring Awards.

Based on evidence from numerous experts including Brightside, the ‘Class Ceiling’ report commissioned by the All Party-Parliamentary Group on Social Mobility highlights the impact of mentoring among other recommendations.