When we sit down and think, most of us can identify at least one person who has been influential in our life. Someone who helped shape who we are today personally, professionally or even both.

They generously shared their time to help nurture our potential and help us grow. These mentors were often unofficial but in some cases their role was part of a more structured programme.

Today, mentoring can take many shapes and is a popular career development tool used in schools, colleges, businesses and youth programmes world-wide. From individual one to one mentoring, workplace experiences to careers advice, research suggests that if young people have four or more engagements with employers, they are less likely to become NEET, Not in Education, Employment and Training.

The Careers and Enterprise Company (C&EC) has recently launched a campaign encouraging SMEs to give an hour of their, and staff time to helping young people understand the world of work.

The C&EC was established in 2015 to help link schools and colleges to employers, in order to increase employer engagement for young people. Along with the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, it funds the Enterprise Adviser Network and The Careers Hub in Lancashire, which are both delivered by Inspira.

By sharing your career journey and insights with young people in schools and colleges within your local community, your unique industry knowledge and experience could make a difference to the options a young person considers for their careers.

For SME’s it is a great way to give something back to your community and ignite your team at the same time. By becoming involved, you can shape the future leaders in your community, and you may also find new recruits for your business.

If you would like to get involved visit www.giveanhour.co.uk and register your interest or contact one of our Enterprise Co-ordinators on info@inspira.org.uk or on Twitter @InspiraStuartG

For more info watch the video - https://youtu.be/AXLVAnk0FIU