Mentoring Works 2024/25: and that’s a wrap!
Mentoring Works 2024/25: And That’s a Wrap!
Written by Ajmin Haque, Senior Project Manager – Mentoring Works
The East London Business Alliance’s (ELBA) Mentoring Works programme is all about connecting young people from East London, primarily Year 10 and sixth form students, with mentors from the City and Canary Wharf. Through regular sessions at their mentors’ workplaces, this initiative aims to raise aspirations, develop essential employability skills, and bridge the gap between education and the professional world for these students.
While we partner with Citi on various projects, this was our first year collaborating on the Mentoring Works programme – and what a successful year it’s been! This academic year we had 50 mentors from Citimatched to three of our partner schools: Clapton Girls’ Academy, Newham Collegiate Sixth Form and Sir George Monoux Sixth Form College . To celebrate the conclusion of the 2024/25 programme, we came together for celebration events in early July, which included an activity to craft and deliver elevator pitches. An elevator pitch is a concise, persuasive speech designed to quickly explain who you are and what you do. Typically lasting around 30 seconds to a minute (the length of a short lift ride!), it’s a powerful way to make a strong first impression and spark interest in a business, project, or even yourself as a candidate. We highly recommend giving it a try. Interestingly, we discovered some of our volunteers have actually had to deliver similar presentations – in a lift!
Throughout the academic year, our student and mentor pairs have delved into several different topics in their meetings, from building interview and presentation skills to career pathways, university options, networking, organisation skills, time management, CV and applications, engaging with professionals and much more.
Alongside supporting their mentees to build confidence and new skills, the mentors also found the programme very rewarding:
‘‘Being a mentor has been an incredibly enriching experience. The programme provides a framework for impactful guidance, and I’ve found the opportunity to connect with and learn from my mentee to be deeply rewarding. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to make a positive difference.’’
‘‘This has been a fantastic experience mentoring the new generation, getting to hear their thoughts and feelings about the current economic climate along with career prospects.’’
‘‘Mentoring is a wonderful way to pay forward all of the advice, guidance, and support I received early on in my career that helped me progress to where I am today. The students are at a critical juncture where they are thinking through their interests and considering the many paths available to launch their careers. The experience was rewarding, insightful, and not a little bit nostalgic as I found myself often reflecting back on my decisions and their impacts at the time.’’
‘‘It has been a pleasure seeing my mentee grow and develop both her professional and personal skills!’’
The positive impact is also clearly reflected in the students’ feedback:
‘‘This mentoring experience had a profound impact on my confidence and awareness of my career and work life. I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor… I would definitely recommend this programme to anyone.’’
‘‘My mentoring experience provided me with invaluable advice, not just about higher education but also how to apply skills to the work environment post education. I’m so grateful for the kindness and support I have received from my mentor.’’
‘‘My mentor is incredibly kind and caring, delivering sessions with warmth and efficiency, making learning both enjoyable and effective.’’
Even though the Mentoring Works programme is now 29 years old, we are consistently delighted by the feedback from all participants and are committed to continuously improving and developing the programme.
Inspired by the powerful words our mentors have shared?
We encourage you to explore the Skills Builder Framework and choose a skill to focus on this week. It’s a great way to continue your own professional growth.
If you are a school or company interested in finding out more about the impactful work we do, please contact the Mentoring Works team at [email protected].
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