University of Exeter celebrates Career Mentor Scheme success

The Career Mentor Scheme started with just eight students, all in receipt of an “Access to Exeter” bursary, that were matched to professionals from their chosen career sector. The aim of the Scheme from the outset has been to help students to gain an in-depth insight into their chosen career, provide them with individual support and advice for their future job applications as well as generally help to improve key employability skills such as networking and commercial awareness.

The initial eight partnerships worked so well that a second cohort was created. The second pilot had 35 students matched to senior business people, each with their own specific attributes making them a worthy mentor. All mentors are successful senior professionals, many of whom are alumni of the University, that bring a wealth of experience, useful contacts and the knowledge of the transition from University to the workplace. 

Robert McKellar who was mentored by Alex Campbell, Senior Associate at Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP commented, "I would have to say that the most surprising part of the scheme was the ease and informal nature of the conversation that we had and the genuine interest that my mentor showed in my career. I genuinely believe that the contacts Alex gave me were invaluable in securing my graduate job at the firm I worked for over the summer."
 
The Scheme has recently been externally recognised and Professor Overton announced that the Career Mentor Scheme had achieved accreditation from the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation and is a proud bearer of “Approved Provider Standard”. Dr. Dawn Lees was thrilled to accept the accreditation on behalf of everyone involved in the scheme. She said “We have worked very hard to ensure that the matches are of a high quality and the scheme is run effectively in order to make the most of the mentors’ time and to have the maximum impact on the students’ experience.”

In attendance at the lunch were several members of staff from University senior management team. Amongst the mentors attending the lunch were the Chief Executive of local charity Hospiscare, Glynis Atherton and Anne Walker, Founder and Chief Executive of International Dance Supplies.

Further information can be obtained from Jenny French, Project Coordinator of the Career Mentor Scheme