by Liz Hall
The Financial & Legal Skills Partnership’s virtual work experience programme, Get In Get On, recently celebrated the training of its 100th e-career mentor but is crying out for more mentors.
Volunteer mentors from HSBC, Santander, Standard Life, Nationwide, KPMG and the RSA are all helping young people take their first step into a fulfilling career, whilst contributing to addressing the wider issues surrounding youth unemployment and the UK’s future workforce.
Get In Get On, which was launched in May 2013, has helped 150 young mentees, empowering them to plan their careers and compete in the global job market. But Liz Field, CEO of the Financial & Legal Skills Partnership, said: “We critically need more volunteer mentors to step forward. The commitment is just four hours of mentoring over the month-long programme, with mentor training provided.”
The Get In Get On project is part funded by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, and focuses on developing young people’s industry-related employability skills and knowledge, bridging the gap between education and work before they reach the workplace. Participants undertake short online learning units on the skills employers seek in new starters. This is enhanced by sector-specific mentoring from an industry trained e-career mentor.
Field said: “Youth unemployment affects us all. Renewed UK economic growth will benefit from the enthusiastic input and ideas of committed, guided young talent. Mentors can make a measurable and significant difference to work experience and e-career mentoring across our sector, realising a hundredfold gain from that initial four-hour commitment. It’s a great opportunity for businesses and individuals to make a significant difference to the lives of young people, the industry and the UK economy.”
The Financial & Legal Skills Partnership is an industry partnership and also a UK Government-licensed skills organisation that works across the UK’s financial and legal services, finance and accountancy sectors.