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Mentoring scheme
The purpose of this scheme is for mentors to share their expertise to help other IIRSM members develop their knowledge, skills and/ or behaviours and achieve their objectives.
The full details can be found below.
Mentoring is a method of helping an individual reflect, learn and develop professionally through the support of someone more experienced.
Anyone in any stage of their career can benefit from being mentored, from someone just entering the world of work through to someone in a leadership role who may be dealing with new challenges or opportunities.
Mentoring provides mentees with the opportunity to:
- acquire new knowledge and skills
- improve self-awareness and confidence
- discuss challenges and aspirations with a neutral person
- gain insight from someone more experienced
- grow network
Mentoring provides mentors with the opportunity to:
- positively impact the performance and career development of someone else
- build and improve skills in developing others
- gain new insights from mentees
- grow network
Like mentoring, coaching is another method of helping an individual reflect, learn and develop professionally. However, there are some distinct differences.
Coaching |
Mentoring |
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|---|---|---|
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Objectives |
Coaching usually focuses on the development of a specifc skill. |
Mentoring has a broader remit. As well as helping individuals develop specific skills, the intervention can also provide broader careers support. |
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Structure |
Coaching is a regular, structured intervention. |
Mentoring may be more reactive in nature, with the individual seeking support and guidance from a mentor as and when they need it. |
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Length |
Coaching relationships are usually relatively short-term. Once the objective has been met the intervention will no longer be required. |
As mentoring is about providing broader support, the length of the relationship can be much longer. |
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Level of directiveness |
Coaches use non-directive techniques, meaning they do not tell the individual how to achieve a change but guide them in indentifying the steps they need to take. |
Whilst mentors may also use non-directive coaching techniques, they can also share examples and lessons learned from their own experiences for the individual to consider. |
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Experience |
Coaches do not necessarily need experience of the individuals work area, but will need training or experience of coaching techniques. |
Mentors usually hold experience which is directly relevant to the individual's professional objectives. They will be able to share relevant experiences from their own career. |
Webinar recording
In 2019, Hugh Maxwell FIIRSM and Grant Thompson SIIRSM, two IIRSM members who were paired under the scheme, shared their experiences and top tips for success during our webinar 'Reaping the benefits: IIRSM mentoring scheme.' You can view the recording here.
We interviewed some of our mentor/mentee pairings and you can read their thoughts on the scheme by clicking the links below:
Hugh Maxwell FIIRSM and Grant Thompson MIIRSM
Andrew Hornsby MIIRSM and Kareem Atef MIIRSM
There are three streams available: 
Stream 1: Traditional scheme
Join this scheme as a mentee if you are seeking support from someone who has 'been there, done that.'
Join this scheme as a mentor, if you are an experienced professional who has a strong interest and enthusiasm for developing individuals earlier on in their career.
Stream 2: Reverse mentoring
Join this scheme as a mentee if you would benefit from being partnered with a generation Zer or millenial, to gain insight into who drives younger people or new technological or social trends.
Join this scheme is a mentee if you are a generation Zer or millenial who is enthusiastic about risk management and willing to share your insight.
Stream 3: Recipriocal mentoring
Recipriocal mentoring is for you if you're looking to connect with an individual working at the same level as you but in a different function, company or industry to gain an alternative perspective on how to approach your work, to share your own experiences and support one another through similar challenges.
Commitment 
We expect those participating in the scheme to be matched for an initial period of 3 months, however there are no set rules and the relationship can continue beyond this point if all is going well.
The frequency and length of each meeting is to be mutually agreed by the matched individuals. It will depend on what the mentee wants to achieve as well as the time both are able to commit. As a minimum, we would expect individuals to meet at least three times over three month period. Meetings can take place face-to-face or remotely, via Skype or telephone.
Application timetable
Stream 1
There are three application periods per year: Summer, Autumn and Winter.
Mentoring streams 2 & 3.
Find out more and register your interest by emailing training@iirsm.org.
Application process
As part of the application process you are asked to provide some information about your experience and what are you are looking to achieve through participation in the scheme, whether as a mentor or mentee. The relevant guidance and forms will be made available in due course.
Further guidance
For more information, application guidance is available to download below. Contact training@iirsm.org for information about streams 2 & 3. You can also find out more about mentoring on the Support & Resources tab.
Handbooks
The Mentor & Mentee Handbooks are available to download from the bottom of this page. The handbooks provide guidance on what is involved in mentoring, how mentors and mentees are matched, and tips and techniques for success.
Webinars
In 2019, Hugh Maxwell FIIRSM and winner of IIRSM's Mentor of the Year 2019 Award, and Grant Thompson SIIRSM, two IIRSM members who were paired under the scheme, shared their experiences and top tips during our webinar 'Reaping the benefits: IIRSM mentoring scheme.' You can view the recording here.
To find out more about the scheme or to register your interest, contact Dina Khalidi, Head of Learning & Development at IIRSM, on dina.khalidi@iirsm.org.