TRAINING
Cool Mentoring: everyone benefits
C
ool Mentoring is an multi-award winning innovative scheme initially formed to help match mentors to mentees across the global refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat- pump (RACHP) industry.
Founder Steve Gill explains: “It is a ‘not for profit’ scheme started and run by volunteers with a genuine desire to help their industry and on a personal level to ‘pay it forward’ as a thank you to the many ‘good souls’ that helped them in their own careers.
“The RACHP industry is facing a number of challenges including skills shortages and an aging work force, to say nothing of the rapid technological changes and environmental aspects. When combined with the fact that most organisations operating in this sector employ fewer than 10 staff, issues of in-house training and knowledge-transfer become even more challenging.”
Conventional organisational in-house mentoring schemes are not new, but an industry- wide mentoring scheme is pioneering. Since the initial pilot project in 2015, the scheme has successfully completed just over 300 pairings across 20 countries and 6 continents. Unlike conventional mentoring which is typically face-to-face, in this scheme the mentor and mentee don’t meet. The whole mentoring process is carried out by hybrid e-mentoring – employing an intelligent use of technologies available, such as email, sms, and video- conferencing.
E-mentoring offers opportunities for mentors and mentees that would not otherwise be possible. For example: ■ A global reach, which provides a greater range of cross-cultural and multinational exchange, enriching the experience of both mentors and mentees
■ Flexibility and no restrictions on time and location as a limiting factor in the matching process
■ The participation of a much wider and diverse talent pool from around the world.
“Everybody wins,” says Mr Gill. “The programme provides considerable benefits for the mentees,
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the mentors and the RACHP industry. “Mentees report improved self-confidence, receipt of career advice, extensive networking opportunities, and increased technical knowledge. “Mentors also gain from the mentoring relationship. Benefits include improved job and personal satisfaction, a greater insight into their own level of knowledge, and increased interest in international aspects of the industry. “The RACHP industry benefits from a raising of skills and retention of knowledge within the industry.”
The Cool Mentoring scheme is evolving. There is an increasing interest from the energy efficiency and built environment sectors of industry, with professionals working in these sectors wishing to tap into the expertise of the RACHP sector and vice-versa.
Other trends include seeing a growth in
reverse-mentoring where more experienced industry people seek help and confidence with modern communication technology, and also professionals returning to work after a career break, such as starting a family, that seek support from mentors outside of their workplace, as they get back up to speed with this fast-changing industry.
A new website is being redesigned to cater for the increased volume and the broadening appeal of industry-wide e-mentoring. This is planned to be ready for the next cycle starting in October. The Cool Mentoring scheme is a true success made possible by volunteers with an innovative idea and a pioneering approach.
Anyone wishing to become involved in the scheme, as a mentor, mentee, or in a support role, please contact Steve Gill by email
Steve@coolmentoring.org
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