South West Mentoring Programme
The SWCSC manages and supports a mentoring programme for cyber security undergraduates for the Universities of Bournemouth, Exeter and Plymouth. We believe it’s a great way for our cyber community to grow, as it fosters the next generation and forges strong links and friendships, further building our cyber community.
Who can be a Mentor?
Anyone working in cyber in any aspect! Remember your experience, even if new, is light years ahead of a student who has yet to start in the sector. You have been through interviews, you prepped your CV, and you have worked in some aspect of cyber. If you have done these three things and can communicate reasonably well, then you can offer tremendous value. What little you think you can pass on, can have more impact than you might imagine.
Mentoring Benefits for Mentors
Mentoring can be hugely personally rewarding and professionally satisfying, as well as creating business social value.
- You will gain new perspectives on cyber and the sector as you explore future pathways with your mentee
- You will develop new skills as you help your mentee to grow
- It is fantastically personally rewarding, ask our recent mentors
Mentoring Benefits for your company’s business
For your business, especially those bidding for government contracts, you can refer to the Cabinet Office Procurement Policy Note 002, The PPN002 Social Value Model award criteria (sections 2.2 and 2.3), where you can clearly elucidate your company’s commitment to social good as part of their overall ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) commitments.
- 2.2 Activities to support relevant sector related skills growth and sustainability in the contract workforce. Illustrative examples: careers talks, curriculum support, literacy support, safety talks and volunteering
- 2.3 Support for the contract workforce by providing career advice, and providing opportunities for staff working on the contract with in-work progression career development into known skills shortages or high growth areas. Illustrative examples: mentoring; mock interviews; CV advice and careers guidance
The Mentoring Ask
The SWCSC and the University teams know that you are busy professionals so we keep the ask to an absolute minimum:
- A minimum of 4 mentoring sessions over a 6-month period
You can of course offer more if you and the student feel you have more to explore.
It does not matter what aspect of cyber you work in, we will match you with students with similar interests and you will be supported throughout.
What’s holding you back? Fill in this short questionnaire to register