With the biggest cohort to date, Mentoring Works celebrates the launch of the 2018-19 programme

BIG Alliance recently launched its 2018-19 Mentoring Works programme for local year 10 students, marking the sixth year Mentoring Works has been running in Islington. This cohort is the biggest to date with the Mentoring Works team matching over 230 students with over 160 mentors from a broad spectrum of businesses. 

The recent launch events provided students the opportunity to meet their mentors for the first time, as well as network with other members of the business. Students also had detailed discussions with their mentors to explore session aims and set dates for their first meetings. The Mentoring Works programme is highly tailored to students’ needs and interests; sessions can cover a wide range of topics that include interview and presentation skills, confidence, critical thinking, and university and careers guidance. 

It’s an exciting time for the BIG Alliance Education team, with the Mentoring Works programme running in almost every secondary school across the borough and ambitions to extend our reach into the future. We are also thrilled to welcome ITV to the list of businesses supporting this year’s student cohort. 

Mentoring Works hopes every pupil on the programme will have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. Thanks to their participation in the scheme, mentees will have first-hand experiences of the workplace through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience to help their exploration of career opportunities, and expand their networks, which links well with the Careers Strategy and Gatsby Benchmarks.

About Mentoring Works: The Mentoring Works programme matches Year 10 and Sixth Form students to business professionals. Students are encouraged to develop the skills and competencies needed for future education, training or careers. Mentoring Works has been assessed and accredited with the Approved Provider Standard (APS) by the Mentoring & Befriending Foundation. The APS is the national quality standard designed specifically for all types of mentoring and befriending projects. 

For more information about Mentoring Works or our wider Education programme, please contact ayesha.begum@thebigalliance.org.uk