For 18 years we’ve connected young people with inspiring mentors who support them with their next big steps towards a successful and rewarding career.
Find out more about mentoring in Scotland.
Mentoring
Volunteers and employers
Becoming a Career Ready mentor is a fun, flexible way to inspire a young person, unlock their true potential, and guide them through the early stages of their career journey.
How it works
Our mentoring programme is a series of monthly meetings, each one building on the last, between a young person and a volunteer from the world of work. Each meeting lasts an hour and focuses on a different aspect of the student’s career and education journey, as outlined in our mentoring handbook.
Naturally, given the current situation, all mentoring meetings will now be done digitally via Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or – if required – WhatsApp video call.
Together, you’ll speak about their different career options & pathways, helping them to understand more about the world of work and the skills they’ll need to kickstart a rewarding future. We have a range of support and guidance documents, and briefing sessions, to make your volunteering experience straightforward.
We have two mentoring options available:
• Jan – Dec with Year 10 students (aged 14/15)*
• Jan-Dec with Year 12/13 students (aged 16-18)
*Only available in select areas
The difference you’ll make
By sharing your professional and life experience you’ll help them:
- Identify their personal strengths and skills for development
- Present themselves in a professional manner
- Explore different career paths and how to navigate towards them
- Gain real experience of the world of work e.g. by visiting you at your office
Becoming a Career Ready mentor is also a great way of growing your professional skill set, developing your leadership, guidance, and relationship building skills. It may also count towards your organisation’s CPD scheme.
You can find out more and register your interest in our volunteering section.
Schools and colleges
Our mentoring programme is a proven, high-impact, no-cost way of ensuring that your young people have additional support in making informed decisions about their future education and career.
We work across the UK, in partnership with 400+ schools/colleges, to provide young people aged 14-18 with inspiring mentors from the world of work.
We specialise in supporting young people who lack the opportunities, networks, and confidence to reach their potential, providing them with the support they need to kickstart a rewarding and successful future.
How it works
Our mentoring programme is a series of monthly meetings, each one building on the last, between a Career Ready student and a volunteer from the world of work.
Naturally, given the current situation, all mentoring meetings will now be done digitally via Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or – if required – WhatsApp video call.
There is no cost to our partner schools & colleges for our mentoring programme.
We have two mentoring programmes available:
- Y10: running from Jan – Dec
- Y12/13: running from Jan – Dec
Over the course of the programme, students, with their mentors, reflect on their progress mapped against our Skills for Career Success learning outcomes. Including:
- Communications & Networking
- Organisational Skills
- Managing Myself
- Problem Solving & Analysis
All Career Ready mentors are DBS-checked and advised on safe-guarding principles and codes of conduct prior to being matched with a young person.
Impact
Career Ready mentors can transform lives, providing their mentee with the skills, confidence, and attitude to reach their potential and kickstart a rewarding future.
Last year, we supported 4,000+ young people on our mentoring programme.
98% of our students went onto a positive destination after graduating from the programme, compared to the national average of 89%, with a growing number selecting to do degree apprenticeship in a business they know.
Find out more in our impact report.
