CIWM launches online mentorship scheme
New mentoring platform aimed at supporting skills development and career progression across waste industry
THE Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has created a new online mentoring platform to help support skills development and enhance operational and personal effectiveness among its members.
Mentoring is an important aspect of professional development for both the mentor and the mentee. And the CIWM Mentoring platform – which went live last month – allows CIWM members to connect confidentially with more experienced members and fellows.
The mentorship scheme is designed to support a range of career objectives from developing leadership skills to finding effective solutions for specific work challenges. It also supports mentees in progressing towards chartered CIWM member status.
The matching process for the one-to-one mentoring programme is simple: CIWM members sign in; create a profile; and search for a mentor who has the appropriate knowledge and skillset to help them achieve their career and professional goals. A range of resources, including video materials, is also available to help mentees get the most from their mentoring journey.
Sarah Poulter, chief executive of CIWM, said: ‘Now more than ever, new and improved skills are a high priority for resource and waste professionals as the sector continues to evolve and play its part in serving and protecting communities and the environment while also delivering on the net zero agenda.
‘Connecting with a supportive mentor can be a powerful way of developing your knowledge, expanding your skillset, building your confidence and, ultimately, boosting your career. We are excited to be able to offer this benefit to our members, particularly during these challenging times.’
Heaping praise on the mentoring platform, Lisa Hathaway, principal land quality engineer for NHBC, has already signed up to the programme. ‘CIWM has been instrumental in helping me throughout my career, including finding a mentor when I initially became chartered,’ said Ms Hathaway.
‘It’s fantastic to have this mentoring platform so that we can support peers across the industry and to know that I can also reach out, if I need to. It’s come at the right time because we now need to support one another more than ever.’
