IES Mentoring Scheme: back and better than ever!

Rhiannon Humphreys

18 January 2021

IES Mentoring Scheme: back and better than ever!

We are excited to announce that our new mentoring platform launches today!

This means the IES Mentoring Scheme is back to support our members achieve their career aspirations.

Over the past few months, we have been developing the Mentoring Scheme to ensure that it is well-equipped to meet the needs of our members seeking career guidance and to help those who are providing this support. Our trusted mentoring streams - Graduate and Chartership mentoring - return, accompanied by a whole host of new streams.

What's new?

Our platform is tailored for our members and will help you make those connections integral for career development. The platform uses bespoke algorithms to match our mentees with the most appropriate mentors, cutting out the intermediary and speeding up the matching process. You will be able to build your profile on the mentoring platform and outline your experience as a professional. As a mentor, you can then identify your areas of expertise where you are happy to offer mentoring, and mentees can select the most relevant stream to their current work goals.

After establishing a profile, mentees will be able to search the database of appropriate mentors, using your chosen selection criteria during profile creation. Mentees can send out mentoring requests and mentors have the opportunity to accept and pursue the mentorship if they believe the match is suitable.

Mentors can also create mentee profiles; for example, you may be happy to provide mentoring on REnvP registrations but may be in need of support yourself in achieving Fellowship.

The platform also includes in-depth resources and useful tools designed to support your mentoring relationship, helping to stay on track and progress towards the mentee's goals.

Mentoring Streams

We have expanded the areas for mentoring available through the IES. These are split into 2 categories, goal-orientated mentoring and general mentoring.

Goal orientated mentoring

With goal-orientated mentoring, you will work towards the mentee achieving their REnvTech, REnvP, CEnv or CSci, or Fellowship of the IES. If you have achieved one of these designations yourself, you are best placed for supporting a more junior member through the process and guiding them to success.

General mentoring

General mentoring is varied and will largely be led by the needs of the mentee. Available in this category is support getting into work, returning to work or changing career paths, help tackling a particular work challenge or guidance pursuing specific professional development. Members who may have had similar experiences, particularly returning to work after a career break or making a significant change within the sector, are encouraged to become mentors in order to pass on your invaluable experience and advice.

Why join the IES Mentoring Scheme...

As a mentor?

Past IES Mentors report that this is one of the most rewarding activities you can pursue as an experienced environmental professional
Find out about challenges facing early career professionals and current employability issues across the sector
Develop your leadership skills by seeking feedback on your mentoring
Promote professionalism within the environmental sector and
Make the most of new mentoring initiatives such as Reverse Mentoring and gain fresh perspectives on your work

As a mentee?

Receive tailored career guidance from an experienced professional in your desired field
Build in accountability whilst working towards longer-term goals, such as planning your journey towards Chartership
Gain fresh perspectives on challenges within your work and how best to approach them
Be supported through your application for professional registrations, whether it's REnvTech, REnvP, CEnv or CSci
Find out how to break into the environmental sector, change disciplines or make that career change you have been considering
Identify and pursue professional development to help you reach your career aspirations

These are just some of the benefits identified by previous IES Mentors and Mentees. Joining the Mentoring Scheme will also help you further network with environmental professionals, develop your understanding of the sector as a whole, and get further involved with the IES community.

How can I sign up?

Our platform is now live for you to sign up. Check out the IES Mentoring Handbook for more information about the scheme and guidance for how to create your profile.

Sign up now

If you have any questions or would like to know more about the new scheme, please email Rebecca Finbow.

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