Establish aims and objectives - what does your company hope to gain from mentoring?
* Identify target groups - do you want to build links to address specific future skill shortages?
* Think in terms of developing your own staff. Mentoring can be a worthwhile tool for employee development.
* Adopt a structured approach. Mentoring should fit with the company’s development plans.
* Think long-term. Remember that mentoring is not a quick fix.
* Recruit and train mentors. Match mentors with individual mentees or groups. Mentors should not be press-ganged.
* Use special procedures when dealing with children or vulnerable groups such as low achievers.
* Invest time. You have to prepare properly and lay out clearly defined boundaries.
* Decide if the mentoring should be linked to the curriculum and the company’s business. If so, work with the school to devise appropriate programmes.
* Set targets. It is important for the relationship to have a focus.
* Get advice. Education business partnerships and training and enterprise councils can provide invaluable help.
* Keep a narrow focus. Do not attempt a scattergun approach.
* Monitor progress. It is important to have a third party monitoring the relationship to nip any problems in the bud.
* Evaluate the programme. Ask yourself what mentoring is yielding for your company.
