North East company helps student career path

Grundfos' Human Resources Director and Sunderland alumna, is helping a student through the university's Mentoring Scheme to equip him with the skills to move on to a professional career in HR.

Bilal Raja, originally from Pakistan, has travelled half way around the world to gain invaluable business skills with one of the region’s top manufacturing companies, Grundfos UK, who employs over 17,000 people globally. Bilal, is studying for his Business and Management degree took the opportunity to take part in the university’s Mentoring Scheme, working at Sunderland-based Grundfos UK, and now has a clear career path in mind.

Catherine, who is CIPD qualified, said: “As a graduate of the University  I wanted to give something back,  but more importantly I wanted to help people because I think that professional development is key to the success of any individual and when I looked at this scheme I saw it as a fantastic way to help a future generation.  You’re in an ideal position to help and it’s certainly very rewarding, I would encourage anyone to get involved.”

Bilal said “The mentoring sessions more than met my expectations. It has been an amazing experience helping to build my confidence and become a much more rounded and professional individual.”

“Catherine set me all sorts of objectives, from practical sessions in personality profiling and looking at my work style to interview practice, as well as guidance on improving and updating my CV, networking with professionals and opportunities though social media.

“HR is an area I’d like to work in eventually and Grundfos invited me to spend a day work-shadowing the team. This gave me an invaluable opportunity to develop practical work-based skills and find out information about HR best practice at a major company.”

Louise Dixon and Tonia Scurr manage the University of Sunderland Professional Mentoring Scheme which has been running for three years and seen almost 200 students mentored this year alone.

Louise said: “Our mentoring scheme is designed to provide students with an insight into the professional world of work, or their chosen career, what employers look for and how best to develop themselves to be that best candidate at interview. What better way to offer that advice than through employers themselves?

“We request employers meet with their student mentees a minimum of five times over the course of the year and although we run an induction session and provide a Handbook, each mentoring partnership takes on its own individual style as each student has their own individual set of objectives.

“Mentors and mentees can also connect via email and telephone calls; we have even had students and companies Skyping or texting each other between meetings. It’s amazing what can be achieved in that short space of time.”

The team is looking for more mentors. If you feel you could be a Mentor to a University of Sunderland student please sign up at https://sumac.ac.uk/account/university-of-sunderland/scheme/66.

If you would like to know more about the Professional Mentoring Scheme, please visit: www.sunderland.ac.uk/business/professionalmentoring/

Email: professionalmentoring@sunderland.ac.uk 0191 515 3527/3388

Go back to Mentoring page.