ScotEng Blog: Supporting the development of engineers through mentoring


Author

Carolyn McMahon
Scottish Engineering

5 minute read

 

In 2019, Scottish Engineering recognised the need amongst our members for mentoring expertise from industry professionals to support the development of their employees. We were fortunate enough to have several volunteer mentors approach us to offer their time. This allowed us to create the Scottish Engineering Mentoring Programme which is available to all our member companies at no cost.

In the journey of personal and professional development, having a mentor can make all the difference. Mentoring is a timeless practice that excels across generations and industries, offering invaluable guidance, support, and wisdom to those seeking to navigate the complexities of life and career. Mentoring not only enhances individual development but also propels the entire organisation forward and with the challenge of the Pandemic, increased levels of early retirement and the skills shortage for many organisations the value of mentoring becomes even stronger. In this blog, we’ll explore the profound benefits of mentoring, share some inspiring testimonials from past and present mentees and give you a chance to read a little about each of our mentors.

Benefits of mentoring

  1. Knowledge Transfer

Mentoring facilitates the transfer of knowledge from experienced professionals to those just starting out or seeking to advance in their careers. Mentors offer valuable insights, best practices, and industry-specific expertise that can’t always be gained from textbooks or formal education.

  1. Enables Personal Development

Mentorship is a catalyst for personal growth. As a mentee, you gain access to the experience of someone who has walked a similar path. This guidance can help you identify your strengths and areas for improvement, leading to greater self-awareness. A mentor encourages you to reflect on your values, goals, and aspirations, providing a safe space to explore your potential.

  1. Supports diversity and inclusion

Engineering has historically struggled with diversity and inclusion. Mentoring can help address this by providing support and opportunities for underrepresented groups. A diverse mentoring program can help ensure that all employees have the guidance and encouragement they need to succeed, fostering a more inclusive workplace.

  1. Work Relationships

Mentorship can significantly improve work relationships. By establishing a close, trusting relationship with a mentor, mentees can feel more connected and supported in their roles. This sense of support can extend to other work relationships, creating a more positive and collaborative work environment.

  1. Career Development

Mentoring plays a crucial role in career development, helping mentees identify their career aspirations, set realistic and achievable career goals, and develop essential skills. Mentors often provide valuable feedback, networking opportunities, and career advice that can accelerate career growth and advancement.

  1. Develops Future Leaders

Mentoring helps in identifying and developing future leaders within the organisation. Mentors can impart not only technical skills but also leadership qualities and strategic thinking. This preparation is vital for creating a pipeline of capable leaders who can drive the company’s future success.

Meet our mentors!

Our Mentoring Programme has gone from strength to strength with over 70 people now having been mentored through the programme and with the support of our mentoring team who are all remarkable individuals and have a great wealth of knowledge and experience to share. Whilst many companies have their own, in many cases, excellent internal mentoring programmes, having external mentors, i.e. from outside your organisation can also be a powerful addition to your mentoring resource. External mentors can bring fresh, independent insight and experience from outside the established wisdoms or culture of your organisation and may be able to foster a more uninhibited relationship with your mentees versus an internal relationship. You can find out more about our mentors here.

Testimonials

My mentor helps me in building my confidence and gives me support and guidance about important matters in my work and personal life. Having someone who is keen to pass on as much of their knowledge as possible has been invaluable. Since joining the scheme, I have achieved professional accreditation with the IMechE and gained promotion to a leadership role. I can’t recommend it enough to anybody looking to develop new skills or advance their career – Mark, Mitsubishi

The Scottish Engineering mentoring programme has played a vital role in my development as a business leader. My mentor was able to support me and offer guidance on key strategic decisions in our business as well as accelerating my professional and personal growth through feedback and learning opportunities. My overall experience has been very positive and I would have no hesitation in recommending the programme to anyone considering it – Jonny, Jenkins Fabrications

The advice, support and encouragement offered has been incredibly valuable and has helped massively to accelerate my professional growth. These sessions have provided great opportunities to share common challenges, discuss individual career experiences and also celebrate wins – James, Atlas Winch & Hoist Services Ltd

Programme Fundamentals

Our mentoring program is designed with the mentee’s needs and comfort in mind, ensuring a confidential and flexible experience. All interactions between mentors and mentees are kept strictly confidential, allowing you to discuss your goals and challenges openly. The frequency of meetings can be agreed between the mentee and the mentor to suit the specific requirements and circumstances of the mentoring relationship. The duration of the mentoring relationship is entirely up to you—it can continue for as long as you find it beneficial. Importantly, you are in the driver’s seat of the relationship, setting the pace and direction according to your personal and professional aspirations. Scottish Engineering can provide meeting room facilities for mentoring sessions at our Glasgow office. Alternatively, sessions can be held at the mentee’s work location or other external locations by mutual agreement between the mentor and mentee.

Whether you’re a professional looking to give back or a newcomer seeking guidance, mentoring offers a wealth of benefits that can enrich lives, enhance individual development and achieve greater organisational success. By embracing the power of mentorship, we can cultivate a future where knowledge is shared, talents are nurtured, and potential is recognised to the fullest. Mentoring can be appropriate at all stages of your career and also irrespective of role or level so, if you would like the opportunity to become a mentee or know someone who would like to take part, please do get in touch as we’d love to have a chat with you and welcome as many people as we can on to our mentoring programme. Please contact carolynmcmahon@scottishengineering.org.uk to register your interest.