For many students, having someone outside their immediate circle who can offer advice, encouragement and a different perspective can change the course of their future. For some 16 to 18 year olds, teachers may be the only adults they regularly speak to. A mentor from the professional world can help build their confidence and open doors they might not have known were there.
In this episode, Tom Heys is joined by Olivia Woodhouse, an Associate in Lewis Silkin's employment team, and Paul Wake, an Associate in the firm's risk team. Together they co-lead the firm's external mentoring scheme. They explain how the six to nine month programme pairs Lewis Silkin people, from fee earners to business services staff, with students from social mobility cold spots. They also explain why the best relationships are led by the mentee rather than tightly structured.
They get into the lessons they have learnt from running the firm mentoring scheme, including tips on how they have navigated the logistics and paperwork to get it up and running. They also share the September to December cycle that keeps the scheme on track: recruit mentors, then mentees, then pair them.
Paul describes watching a mentee go from being unsure what to study to working through their first-year university exams. Olivia explains how being open about her own struggles with public speaking helped a shy mentee find her voice.
If you're thinking of setting up a mentoring programme in your own organisation, this episode is full of practical advice.
