Future Faces opens applications for second mentoring scheme

The Future Faces committee have officially launched applications for the second cohort of their mentoring scheme, after a successful first launch of the scheme last October.

The second Future Faces mentoring scheme will aim to help the young professionals involved to develop their career skills with a one-to-one mentor, who will support their future business aspirations.

Applications for the scheme will open today, 3 April 2023, and interested persons can apply here.

Applications will close on 30 April 2023.

The mentor scheme will then officially launch with an in-person social, hosted by Intercity, on 25 May 2023.

The scheme is the next step for the Future Faces division as they continue to strengthen their offering to members and enhance their professional development opportunities.

The mentoring scheme sub-committee is currently chaired by Harriet Saunders, with vice-president Yung Lau, executive committee members Freya Dearman and Tom Bower, and members Kirsty Morris, Megan Philips, and Molly Crampton making up the rest of the committee.

The team have worked hard to bring forth a second cohort of the mentoring scheme, putting in hours of work to ensure all sectors are covered and that each mentor and mentee will benefit wholly from the scheme and from each other.

Harriet Saunders, chair of the Future Faces sub-committee, said: “I am thrilled that we have successfully launched the second Future Faces Mentoring Scheme to help support our members to progress their career ambitions and continue their professional development.

“The range and quality of mentors secured by the first scheme from all areas and industries within the West Midlands was fantastic.

“I would like to thank the Chamber and the committees for their support throughout to help drive this second cohort forward to launch. ”

For the mentors, the scheme will be an opportunity for them to give back to the Birmingham business community, as well as develop their own skills and share their business insights and knowledge.

Currently the scheme will aim to comprise of around 40 mentors and 40 mentees. The mentors involved in the scheme will have a wealth of experience in sectors such as finance, sales and marketing, start-up and entrepreneurship, education, technology and innovation, and retail, to name but a few.

The project has been in development since March 2022, with the launch of the first mentoring scheme in October 2022 being a huge success.

Kate Curry, a mentor from the first scheme, said: “I love to help others achieve, so being able to refine my mentoring skills with the support of the Chamber was fantastic and really rewarding.

“The initial training session, and creative way we were all introduced to each other, made the process feel positive, energetic, and exciting. I'd really recommend taking part in this programme. ”

Pictured: The previous mentoring scheme sub-committee from the first launch (L-R)- Yung Lau, Harriet Saunders, Tom Bower, Kirsty Morris, Freya Dearman and Ashley Kerr