How It Works

The mentoring scheme is designed to be as flexible as possible. Together with your mentees, you decide when and where to meet within the following guidelines:
- You meet with your mentees once or twice a month for 1 hour.
- Meetings are held either at your business or your mentee's school.
- We ask for a minimum commitment of 10 months (minimum of 10 sessions) to the scheme.
- Most schemes start in September or October and run until the following summer.

Schools recommend the mentees, who attend voluntarily, on the basis of one or more of the following criteria: Future aspirations, specific career options, motivation and self esteem.

If you have any queries about this scheme, please contact:
Megan.Hunter@thebp.co.uk


Resources

Before being matched with your pupil(s), you will receive training and guidance on how to ensure the pupils get the most out the mentoring sessions. Your Business Mentor Handbook contains session plans and activities to help you structure your sessions. You will then be invited to attend a matching and launch event at the school with your colleagues. You will also have to complete a Police Check Form, which we will provide for you. The pupils are also briefed by the school and given a scheme logbook.


Aims & Benefits

The main benefits highlighted by current mentees include the following:

Discovering employment opportunities.
Experiencing the work environment.
The opportunity to develop a friendship with a positive adult role model.
Increased self confidence, self esteem and broadening of horizons.
Enhancing and developing key skills such as CV writing, interview technique and time management.


The main benefits highlighted by current and past mentors include the following:

The opportunity to do something different and have a positive impact on the development of local young people.
The opportunity to 'give something back' to the community.
Helping to put work into perspective.
The opportunity to discover more about the education system.
The opportunity to test skills in a new, challenging environment.
The opportunity to learn about different cultures and religions.


The main benefits highlighted by current and past companies include the following:

Contributing to the local community.
Developing employees' mentoring skills.
Developing employees' interpersonal skills.
Helping to motivate employees.
The benefit to the firm's public relations.
Complementing the firm's training programmes.
Student Quotes

'Brilliant! My twin sister is doing the scheme too and we both have found it so helpful, I feel really grown up when I go to my mentor's office.'

'It improves work skills and makes students confident about the future, thanks to my mentor for his efforts.'

'I would like to thank my mentor for his hard work and time. I have improved vastly in many things like my communication skills.'

'My mentor has been very useful and helping with future education options and achieving long-term ambitions.'

'Best thing ever! It makes you look at things differently.'

Volunteer Quotes

'I found the most beneficial things that I have got out of this experience was the insight into schools/young people today and the issues they face and also I found it quite challenging and to communicate on a different level that I am not used to.'

'I was very pleased to have this opportunity. It would be good for colleagues to attend to help with an understanding of difficulties/challenges others face in the wider communities. It is useful to develop confidence, organisation and communication skills.'

'I have found the experience truly rewarding. I was very fortunate in my upbringing and to work with a mentee who has not had the same, but is truly committed to hard work and success is inspiring. I am pleased to have participated in this scheme and hope to take it up again in the future.'

'This was the most fulfilling element of my three years at my company. I have had such a fantastic time mentoring my student and seeing him mature as an individual. I would recommend the scheme to everyone, as a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to a young person in a less privileged position than you.'