Two recent news stories show just how far we have to go in ensuring equality of opportunity for all.

First, we learned that the proportion of state-school students being accepted to university had fallen for the first time in seven years. In fact for 15 institutions, less than 70% of their undergraduates are from state-schools.

This was followed by news from the National Education Opportunity Network, who found that half of universities accept less than 5% of white students on free school meals. Some admitted to accepting none at all.

Tony Blair as Prime Minister pledged to work towards a goal of half of young adults progressing to higher education, a target that most recent figures suggest is on the verge of becoming a reality. But it is clear that despite all the work done by various governments and universities to mobilise participation in higher education, there is still some way to go.

Lack of opportunity is not stemmed at 18. It proliferates and can define even the most naturally talented students for life. Three-quarters of our Bright Network members come from state schools and it’s clear that, despite different backgrounds, they are no more or less talented than our privately educated members.

We know how the talented young people can be when given a strong state education and a confidence to reach the stars. Just look at East London’s Brampton Manor academy that will be sending 41 students — many of whom are from BAME backgrounds — to Oxbridge.

Despite these positive cases, state-school enrollment at Oxford University was just 58% in the last academic year, with St Andrews, Durham, Imperial and Cambridge accepting fewer than two-thirds of their students from state-schools; despite the fact that 93% of UK school pupils are state-educated.

The big difference is opportunity. Among our members, state school students are 11% more likely than average to say a lack of suitable contacts is a barrier to pursuing their career of choice. And 40% of state school students say they have found their background to be a barrier in job applications, compared to 25% of private school students.

When you are told you are in the country’s top tier of students from the age of 11 — as many are at private schools — it gives you a confidence that helps you break through barriers. That’s why we have found that private school graduates expect a £3,000 higher average starting salary than state-school graduates, and £7,000 more after five years.

As head of Bright Network, I encourage employers to fish in the ocean of untapped potential talent out there. My job is to help the world’s best companies find the talent they need to grow, and to enable the UK’s brightest graduates to discover great career opportunities.

There is so much talent that employers never get to see because of unequal opportunities in education. We need to address the societal issues that cause this, working to keep children in school and directing them on a path towards university, work and maximising their undoubted talent.