PI Consulting News
Employer mentoring scheme gives students the chance to develop essential ‘business skills’
Posted: 20 Jun 2008
Anglia Ruskin University's annual Mentoring Awards ceremony has taken place at the University's East Road campus in Cambridge to mark the successful conclusion of the 2007-2008 Scheme
The scheme, which attracted some 50 or so business participants in this its fifth year, is designed to match students at university with individuals in a relevant job, who make a commitment to help them gain an understanding of their work environment, its culture, its expectations, its demands and even its frustrations.
During the celebratory event, the participating students and their employer mentors received certificates from the Mayor of Cambridge, Councillor Mike Dixon, to acknowledge their contribution to the scheme which has seen them working together in a mentoring relationship for a period of six months.
Employers nationally identify the lack of business awareness among graduates as being a significant barrier to progress. Addressing this key concern, Anglia Ruskin University’s Employer Mentoring Scheme has been developed as a targeted program, giving individual students support and mentoring from a graduate or professional from local organisations. On a one-to-one basis, these mentors are invaluable in encouraging and helping the coming generation of our graduates to understand, evaluate and enhance their personal skills and business awareness.
The region’s participating employers include Cambridge Building Society, PI Consulting, Motorola, Eversheds and online security firm nCipher, Cambridge Consultants, East Cambs District Council, Cambridge City Council, Cambridge Constabulary, Stagecoach and a range of other organisations including Addenbrookes and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.
All participants benefit at the outset from a free Anglia Ruskin University introductory training session. More importantly, the mentoring experience and the University’s ongoing support develops the skills of participating staff, providing them with a valuable developmental opportunity. The scheme is highly regarded within the sector and has Home Office recognition.
In the words of Hamish Cameron from nCipher who has been a mentor on the programme for four successive years now:
“With every year I gain a little more confidence and learn a lot more myself. It is very much a two way process.”
A further benefit for employers is, of course, their access to motivated and enthusiastic students, potentially aiding with future recruitment.
Many trained mentors returned to the scheme this year but more are invited for next year’s programme. If you are an employer and would like to find out more about taking part, please call Katie Morris on 0845 196 2541 or email .
Business resilience and performance: Free Health Check helps SMEs protect against economic downturn
Posted: 18 Jun 2008
A free online tool has been launched today (16 June 2008) to help small and medium sized businesses check their resilience to economic downturn.
The Self Assessment Business Diagnostic has been developed by business consulting and advisory firm PI Consulting.
It’s a five minute online questionnaire which examines how a company is performing in five key areas of business, then awards a percentage score.
Any business with a low score is very poorly prepared, and, according to PI Consulting, at high risk of not making it through any serious economic downturn.
IOD East Midlands. The Newsletter for members in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
Posted: 16 Jun 2008
Member Profile; Vincent Bryant of PI Consulting
“Our emphasis on advising and supporting implementation ensures we base our advice and plans on a thorough understanding of the opportunities, issues and practicalities of achieving results for each individual project and client.”
High growth companies – lessons from the high performers
Posted: 21 Apr 2008
Innovators and entrepreneurs are missing opportunities to grow their companies according to Prof. Colin Coulson-Thomas speaking at the iFestival exhibition held at The Walkers Stadium in Leicester.
“They develop exciting new products while adopting inappropriate approaches to winning business. Their technical creativity needs to be matched by innovation in their approach to business building”.
Colin’s ‘Winning Companies; Winning People’ research programme identifies what successful people or winners do differently in areas such as winning business, building customer relationships and creating and exploiting know-how. Over 2,000 companies participated in the latest round of studies, and critical success factors or ‘winning ways’ for key business building activities have been identified. Further information can be obtained by contacting Colin at PI Consulting: .
BBC Business News
Three-way split on rate decision
The majority of Bank of England policymakers voted to keep rates at 5% this month, but one voted for a cut and another for a rise.
Mortgage approvals hit fresh low
The number of new mortgages approved by the major banks fell to a new record low in June, and is down 67% on the year.
Ryanair price error 'to be fixed'
Ryanair says it will fix a fault on its website that means it is breaking rules on price clarity.
