I am passionate about helping our younger generation prepare themselves for the world of work. Having seen my own children experience the transition from students to young employees, I have come to realise that we business owners can certainly help.
Today’s children are our future and it is our responsibility to nurture and encourage them to achieve their goals in life.
Having been a business owner for 16 years I decided that mentoring could not only be a way of doing the above but also a chance to give something back to the community.
I have recently decided to enrol as a Business Advisor/Mentor with Young Enterprise and have been lucky enough to be placed with a local school.
This programme is a practical way for students to experience the world of work which hopefully will have an impact on their lives. Running a business is not only exciting but challenging. Students go through the highs and lows of business. These encounters are something that everyone will experience at some point in their career.
It will be a personal learning curve which will enable them to promote themselves on their CV and during the interview process.
Enjoyment; It is hard work but fun along the way.
Pride; Not only in their product but in themselves.
Achievement; To have an idea and see it come to fruition.
Friendships; Working together and getting to know other students.
Teamwork; An essential skill in today’s world of work.
Positivity; Ability to move on after criticism.
Organise; Not only are they running their own business but will have schoolwork and exams to undertake and possibly a part time job to coordinate.
CV; Make them stand out from other applicants.
Interview; The Young Enterprise experience can give them lots to talk about, they can use business experience to answer challenging questions.
Confidence; It will enable them to present themselves more confidently and speak more clearly in an interview or presentation.
On a personal note I did not expect to get as much out of this experience as I am doing. These students are awesome! They are full of ideas, energy, enthusiasm and have a thirst for knowledge. They bring smiles on their faces to every meeting. I am proud to be a part of their journey and enjoying watching them flourish.
