If you’re looking for an opportunity to give back to your community, consider becoming a mentor. Mentoring can be an incredible way of inspiring young people, helping them into employment or self-employment, and connecting with the next generation of professionals.
What is mentoring?
Mentoring is where an industry professional is connected with someone who needs help, advice or support in starting their own business or finding employment. There are numerous mentorship programmes across the UK. Programmes can offer mentorships where professionals work with a group or one-to-one, giving general advice on how to get into work, or more targeted advice on building a business.
Why become a mentor?
Becoming a mentor can be a way of giving back to the community, offering people the expertise and support that you wished you had, or a volunteering opportunity where you can use your skills outside of the workplace.
Director Adam Kuznesof volunteered with The Prince’s Trust as a mentor, and says, ‘Starting a business can be intimidating and overwhelming, particularly for young people. I was looking for a way of volunteering my time, and working with the Prince’s Trust was ideal. I was able to give someone all the information, support and knowledge I needed when we started Transcendit.
What mentorship schemes are available in the North East?
North East Futures UTC
North East Futures UTC is a technical school in Newcastle upon Tyne for 14-19 year olds. As part of their curriculum, North East Futures UTC partners with businesses, organisations, and professionals across the North East to help prepare their students for the workplace.
North East Futures UTC holds twice termly meetings (six hours per academic year) where mentors connect with students and talk them through career pathways. This can include discussions on a variety of topics, including CV building, application forms, interview techniques and mentors personal and professional stories about how they entered and began working in their industry.
According to North East Futures UTC, industry professionals should enquire if they want to, ‘Share your passion and experiences with someone who wants to follow your path; Have a positive impact on a young person’s confidence and development; Inspire and support the next generation of STEM-focused workers here in the North East; Continue your own professional development by supporting young people with their careers.’
To become a mentor with North East Futures UTC, enquire on their website.
The Prince’s Trust
The Prince’s Trust is a registered charity which aims to help young people gain skills to get into the workplace. They partner with a number of different employers to help those aged 16 - 30 find a job, including M&S, HSBC and the NHS.
The Prince’s Trust has helped over 90,000 young people start their own business. Young entrepreneurs can join their free Enterprise programme, where you can meet a business advisor, learn about business planning, marketing, sales, budgeting and tax. They also provide young people with a mentor to help support and test their ideas. Mentors volunteer 4-6 hours a month for a minimum of two years, so that a young person entering self-employment has consistent support.
According to the Prince’s Trust, professionals should enquire if they want to ‘help provide a young person with support to develop and grow their own business, act as a sounding board for a young person to share their thoughts, concerns and successes, and empower them to make their own decisions around the business’.
To become a member with The Prince’s Trust, enquire on their website.
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