ORGANISATION IN FOCUS - NATIONAL MENTORING CONSORTIUM
The National Mentoring Consortium (NMC) is a membership organisation that aims to promote equality and diversity in graduate recruitment and to enhance the employability of Black and Asian students. Barclays Bank are their current sponsors.
Since the NMC was founded in 1994 its membership has grown to include over 250 employers and 20 universities across the UK. It is supported by the CBI, the Institute of Directors, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and the Commission for Racial Equality.
One of NMC’s programmes is the Ethnic Minority Undergraduate Scheme, a successful mentoring programme that provides support and experience to Black and Asian students planning managerial and professional careers. It matches students in one to one mentoring relationships with staff members of employer organisations in business, law and the public sector. Students gain the opportunity to improve their personal and professional skills and prepare for the world of work, and mentors gain personal development and fulfilment by sharing their skills and experience.
The scheme runs for six months, from October through to April each year. Following an induction and training event for both Mentors and Mentees, the participants have mentoring meeting (two 1 hour sessions) monthly, usually at the mentor’s workplace.
The NMC runs an annual awards ceremony for mentors and mentees and the next ceremony is on the 2nd May 2006 at the Barclays Bank Global Headquarters in Canary Wharf. The trophies for the 2006 awards are sponsored by Herbert Smith LLP.
Those interested in becoming mentors should contact the NMC on 0208 2234343 and visit their website www.nmc-online.com