We’re proud to announce a new partnership with NES Fircroft
Wiseup is delighted to unveil an exciting new partnership with NES Fircroft, an Altrincham head quartered recruitment firm with over 80 office locations in 45 countries around the globe.
As one of the leading energy recruitment firms globally, NES Fircroft is strengthening its existing ESG agenda by looking towards the next generation of talent on their collaboration on the Pathfinder Programme. This initiative will support students at Wellington School, and is designed to bridge the gap between education and employment, whilst helping the students build employability skills, confidence and experience in a real-world environment.
NES Fircroft’s programme will see five students paired with five NES Fircroft employees for four 1-2-1 mentoring sessions. This structured support will culminate in an immersive work experience week at the NES Fircroft office in June.
The programme
Things kicked off with a spark on Friday, as the five NES Fircroft mentors joined Wiseup Expert – Stephen Chandler for the mentee briefing workshop. Designed to give the volunteers a greater understanding of the complexities of mentoring young people, the mentors took a deep dive into mentoring/coaching best practices, whilst reflecting on some of the exercises to work through with their students, along with questions to prepare to ask and answer.
All of the mentors expressed a great interest and desire to help their mentees, and brought lots of insights to the day. The room enjoyed a definite buzz as the mentors dug into the workshop throughout the afternoon.
The Value of Mentoring and Work Experience
For many young people, stepping into a corporate environment for the first time can be daunting. The Pathfinder Programme is designed to alleviate these concerns by combining mentorship with practical, hands-on experience. The mentoring sessions serve as a foundation for the students to get the most out of their work placement. The goal is to equip them with the insights needed to truly engage fully with the programme before, during and after the work experience week.
Rather than offering a conventional work experience programme, where the students can feel out of their depth and unprepared, the Pathfinder initiative adds an extra layer of support by giving them the platform to work with their mentor in the 1-2-1 setting.
By engaging with professionals before, during, and after their placement, students can maximise their learning experience and personal growth. This approach ensures that their transition into a workplace setting is both seamless and empowering.
Benefits for Students and Mentors
There are many benefits for all those involved. For the businesses, it’s an excellent opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to their social impact.
For the mentors, they’re taking part in a learning and development scheme that not only will help them professionally, but allows them to give back to those who truly need the support. For the students, it is truly a life-changing programme.
The students will not only gain practical work experience, but they will also develop critical interpersonal skills, gain exposure to different job functions, and build confidence in their abilities. These experiences provide them with a clearer vision of their future career paths, many of which may not have been previously considered.
The Importance of Industry-Supported Programmes
Bridging the divide between academic education and the working world is critical in ensuring young people are equipped with the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Sadly, for many schools, their employment teams are simply overstretched. Programmes like the Pathfinder initiative are particularly beneficial for students who may feel disconnected from corporate environments, by not having their own networks, for example.
Looking Ahead
With the workshop complete, the next stage is the matching process, in which students and their mentors will be paired based on common interests and subject experience.
The pairs will soon embark on their first mentoring sessions in person at the school in May, followed by the work experience week and the second and third mentoring sessions in June. The pairs will come together for one last session in September, at a time when the students will be eagerly looking ahead toward the next steps in their careers.
Through collaboration, mentorship, and hands-on experience, the Pathfinder Programme is set to make a meaningful difference to the lives of the participating students. We’re confident that the students will feel supported, confident, and well-prepared ahead of their placement with NES Fircroft, and we’re looking forward to sharing the next stages of their programme!
