PRINCES MENTORS SUPPORT SIXTH-FORM STUDENTS AT TWO MERSEYSIDE SCHOOLS

Princes is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, has the chance to realise their full potential. In April 2024, our Social Mobility Colleague Resource Group (CRG) spearheaded a 12-month mentoring programme in partnership with One Million Mentors. One Million Mentors, is a unique community-based mentoring system with the aim of connecting one million young people with one million opportunities. As part of this initiative, 20 colleagues from Princes Head Office underwent training to become effective mentors, and were then partnered with 20 Year 12 students from across Calderstones School in Liverpool and The Oldershaw School in Wallasey in Wirral. The programme will provide 240 hours of mentoring, supporting young people in our local communities to gain the skills, knowledge and networks to achieve their aspirations. Our colleagues who have signed up to be mentors come from all levels of our business, ranging from those who have just come out of our graduate scheme right through to directors

Princes colleague, Lee Matthews, who championed the initiative said: “Following our first monthly session all our mentors came away hugely buoyed by the experience and the potential to really make a difference.”

Paul Richards, Head of Year 12/13 & School Careers Lead at Calderstones School, said: “We are delighted to be working with Princes on this mentoring programme. It was clear from the first session that the mentoring was going to make a difference.”

Karen Rowles, Careers and Opportunities Manager at The Oldershaw School, said:“This is already proving to be a fantastic opportunity for our students. I fully believe that students need to ‘see it to be it’, and this provides exactly that. The mentors have struck up a great working relationship with the students, we’re so pleased to see them growing and learning from these interactions”.

Zahid Howladar, Chief Commercial Officer at One Million Mentors, said: “One Million Mentors is pleased to be working with Princes, having recently entered Liverpool and launching two local mentoring programmes for young people. This has been made possible not only thanks to Princes’ corporate sponsorship, but also their provision of volunteers who as professionals will be developing key skills while supporting the next generation of talent. Bringing together young people and employers is important in our mission to improve social mobility and guiding young people to brighter futures through the power of mentoring.”