UK Power Networks employees mentor Year 10 students ahead of GCSEs
As five million students finish their GCSE exams this, Year 10 students from disadvantaged backgrounds are already benefiting from extra mentoring ahead of their GCSEs next year.
The initiative was set up by the charity Future Frontiers which pairs students with professionals to help the youngsters figure out pathways for their post-16 education and turn dreams into potential reality.
The 15 students were invited to UK Power Networks’ headquarters in central London once a week for a month to develop their options with experienced employees as ‘coaches’.
Week one saw students introduced to their coaches where they learned about each other and what the student was hoping to get out of the programme.
Working through resource material over the following weeks, the student and coach mapped out potential career paths for the student to explore, and how to pursue apprenticeships, or A Levels and T Levels.
In the final session, students also met with a professional in the industry of their choice to explain their own route into that job. These included a motor-racing mechanic, architects and veterinarians.
UK Power Networks’ commitment to social mobility is engrained in the company’s values, and initiatives like Future Frontiers offer existing employees a chance to give back to local communities and inspire young people.
Feedback revealed that 100% of pupils on the course agreed that their coach guided them to discover an “inspirational career” and 100% of pupils agreed “I believe that I will be able to reach a career that inspires me” - compared with 57% at the beginning of the course.
One 15-year-old student said: “Thank you for helping me try to find a job that I will be interested in. I have learnt a lot in my time at Future Frontiers and I really appreciate it and throughout the sessions I have gained confidence.”
While their teacher added: “This was the best mentoring session I’ve ever been to! It was so well organised and the mentors were great! The fact that all students have attended shows just how much they are enjoying the sessions.”
Natasha Paramasamy, STEM outreach specialist at UK Power Networks, said: “We were delighted to welcome back Future Frontiers for another year of mentoring, and the success of this year’s coaches is a testament to our colleagues who built quality relationships with their students and really believed in them and supported them.”
Selena Shepherd, transition manager at Future Frontiers, said: “Working with the volunteer mentors from UK Power Networks has been an absolute pleasure.
“All of the coaches were really engaged in the activities and it was lovely to see everyone getting involved and participating with such enthusiasm during the sessions.
“This initiative by the company has had an amazing impact on the students who were so excited to turn up to the sessions and see their coaches each week.
“I was so impressed with the way all the coaches took everything in their stride, particularly with the challenge of finding a variety of Sector Role Models for the students to speak with.
“The coaches made sure that the pupils were the main focus of the programme and found a fantastic professional for each of the students.
“We are really grateful for all the hard work the volunteers put in and it is clear to see the positive results and impact that this has had on their pupils.”
Published: 27/06/24
The initiative was set up by the charity Future Frontiers which pairs students with professionals to help the youngsters figure out pathways for their post-16 education and turn dreams into potential reality.
The 15 students were invited to UK Power Networks’ headquarters in central London once a week for a month to develop their options with experienced employees as ‘coaches’.
Week one saw students introduced to their coaches where they learned about each other and what the student was hoping to get out of the programme.
Working through resource material over the following weeks, the student and coach mapped out potential career paths for the student to explore, and how to pursue apprenticeships, or A Levels and T Levels.
In the final session, students also met with a professional in the industry of their choice to explain their own route into that job. These included a motor-racing mechanic, architects and veterinarians.
UK Power Networks’ commitment to social mobility is engrained in the company’s values, and initiatives like Future Frontiers offer existing employees a chance to give back to local communities and inspire young people.
Feedback revealed that 100% of pupils on the course agreed that their coach guided them to discover an “inspirational career” and 100% of pupils agreed “I believe that I will be able to reach a career that inspires me” - compared with 57% at the beginning of the course.
One 15-year-old student said: “Thank you for helping me try to find a job that I will be interested in. I have learnt a lot in my time at Future Frontiers and I really appreciate it and throughout the sessions I have gained confidence.”
While their teacher added: “This was the best mentoring session I’ve ever been to! It was so well organised and the mentors were great! The fact that all students have attended shows just how much they are enjoying the sessions.”
Natasha Paramasamy, STEM outreach specialist at UK Power Networks, said: “We were delighted to welcome back Future Frontiers for another year of mentoring, and the success of this year’s coaches is a testament to our colleagues who built quality relationships with their students and really believed in them and supported them.”
Selena Shepherd, transition manager at Future Frontiers, said: “Working with the volunteer mentors from UK Power Networks has been an absolute pleasure.
“All of the coaches were really engaged in the activities and it was lovely to see everyone getting involved and participating with such enthusiasm during the sessions.
“This initiative by the company has had an amazing impact on the students who were so excited to turn up to the sessions and see their coaches each week.
“I was so impressed with the way all the coaches took everything in their stride, particularly with the challenge of finding a variety of Sector Role Models for the students to speak with.
“The coaches made sure that the pupils were the main focus of the programme and found a fantastic professional for each of the students.
“We are really grateful for all the hard work the volunteers put in and it is clear to see the positive results and impact that this has had on their pupils.”
Published: 27/06/24