Mentoring For the Future

Big business is doing something positive about the worrying lack of skills amongst new entries to the job market.

Sadly in many instances the education system and parents have failed young people and many of those entering the work force simply do not have the basic skills to get a job. The education system includes many universities and have given graduates the impression that just because they have been to university, they are automatically qualified to get a well-paid job. Often writing, spelling, communication and basic interactive skills have not been properly developed.

Instead of complaining about the situation some big businesses such as British Gas, npower, Deutsche Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland are doing something about it. They have developed e-monitoring, which links individual employees who have volunteered, as mentors, to schoolchildren of all ages. Each mentor receives a weekly email from their allocated pupil and once a week the mentor responds, flitting it in with their own schedule.

The programme is run by Community Service Volunteers, the UK's largest volunteering charity organisation. It is remarkably simple and appears to be a win win situation offering the children the practical help, they will need for the future and giving the mentors a real extra interest and morale boost.

The impact on the children is clearly traceable and the relationship lasts for a year.

The initial aim is to improve the IT and communication skills of the children and the mentoring employees feel good about the Company, of which they are a part, which is clearly making a contribution to society, not to mention the benefit of better skilled and educated future employees.