Empowering the underrepresented: Fusion Mentoring
The Fusion Mentoring programme is a mentoring partnership between BIG Alliance and Macquarie Group’s Fusion Network. The employee network group, Fusion Network, is committed to empowering colleagues from diverse races, ethnicities, cultures, and faiths. In 2024, the third year of the programme, a cohort of nine ethnically diverse students (aged 18-25) from Islington, were partnered with nine Macquarie Group employee volunteer mentors.
The programme launched in 2021 to help address the barriers ethnically diverse young people face when it comes to education and employment. The Office for National Statistics in their Ethnicity pay gaps, UK: 2012 to 2022 report, revealed that Black, African, Caribbean or Black British employees earned consistently less pay than White employees. The reasons for this are multitude, with factors such as work-culture shocks for ethnic minorities, to differing developmental progression for white employees compared to ethnic minorities. Initiatives such as the Fusion mentoring play an important role in empowering ethnic minorities in the workplace.
This year’s cohort consisted of nine mentoring relationships, with mentees predominantly studying at London Metropolitan University. Over the course of the mentoring relationships, mentors collectively volunteered for over 54 hours. The mentoring sessions provided mentees with a personalised support system, which helped mentees identify and develop their strengths and goals. Through tailored coaching and resources, mentors guided their mentees toward their career aspirations with a particular focus on finance industry readiness.
“I can proudly say I am able to go on my own to interviews because of the helpful guidance I was able to receive on the programme.”
To conclude the mentoring relationship, all participants of the programme are asked to complete feedback forms to help inform and support the next cohort of mentoring relationships. This year’s findings relayed that 100% of respondents would recommend the programme.
“My experience with Fusion has been transformative, largely due to the exceptional support from my mentor. Despite our differing backgrounds we successfully found common ground that was both welcoming and insightful. Her impartial, professional, and mature guidance enabled me to adapt my skills to meet job market requirements.”
BIG Alliance would like to thank all employee volunteers from Macquarie Group who gave their time to mentor over the past six months. We look forward to partnering with the Fusion Network at Macquarie in the future.