A BUSINESS mentoring programme to help young people settle into the work place was held at The Forum, Mount Havelock.
Supported by Manx Youth Opportunities (MYO) and funded by the Manx Education Foundation, the workshop was designed to train managers in the skills required for coaching and mentoring. For some it was an opportunity to polish existing skills, for others it was a very new experience.
Mairi Lockwood, office manager at Luviair, Ramsey said: ‘The training was particularly useful for me as Luviair brings young people into the company for work experience. The two points that clicked most with me were understanding what it is to be a mentor and using structure within this role.
‘The training has given me confidence that with the right preparation and mindset the results can be very positive.’
Would be mentors from Heron and Brearley, Sleepwell Hotel Group, Isle of Man Creamery, Luviair and Blue Sea International, took part in a range of practical activities designed to develop skills and build confidence to mentor within their organisations.
Developed and delivered by Angelena Boden, a coach and mentor of many years’ experience, delegates appreciated how different learning styles affect the mentor’s approach, learned how to plan and structure a mentoring/coaching session and actively put their new skills into practice under supervision.
Nigel McFarlane from Credo, a counselling and mentoring service for young people said: ‘I have always regarded business mentoring as a useful process for any organisation. Angelena’s course, with her effortless training style which belies a depth of knowledge and skill, served to reinforce this. It was a thoroughly worthwhile and enjoyable day.’
Stephen Keeley, finance director of Isle of Man Creamery, found the course to be personally beneficial as well as an encouragement to take on a young person into the business.
One of the biggest issues facing young people who go into work either via preparation for work courses, college or straight from school is that they feel unsupported and misunderstood.
They need someone they can go to with any problem, be it work or home related. Many young people are struggling to overcome emotional problems and domestic barriers to making a smooth transition into the adult world.
Mentors can really help with this process.
