What is it like having Urban Synergy mentees come for work experience at UK Power Networks?
Every summer, we have young people come in for a month of work experience with us. Some of them even go on to secure employment with UK Power Networks afterwards.
During that time, I do mentor them, but it’s more of an informal approach. Most of our conversations happen in group settings, where I can share advice, answer questions, and give them an insight into how the organisation works and what’s expected of them in a professional environment.
How did you find out about Urban Synergy, and when was that?
I started working with Urban Synergy over 15 years ago. Leila reached out and asked me to get involved because I’d been running a similar programme before, which had come to an end a couple of years earlier.
Urban Synergy’s mission really resonated with me because it aligns with my own background. I was born in the Caribbean and came to the UK as a young boy. I struggled quite a bit through school, but I was fortunate to have mentors around me, especially my uncle who spent a lot of time guiding and encouraging me. He helped me find direction and push through challenges.
Now, I’m simply doing for others what people once did for me.
Can you tell us about one of your recent mentees at UK Power Networks?
Yes. There’s a young man named Cairo who joined us through the summer programme. He performed really well and went on to secure an apprenticeship with us.
Whenever I see him, I check in and offer guidance on how to progress. Not just through his apprenticeship but also within the wider organisation or even beyond, if he chooses a different path in the future.
I share what I did at that same age because I remember being 18 or 19 and going through similar experiences. So I give him tips on how to develop professionally and move forward with purpose.
What’s your main goal when mentoring young people?
My goal isn’t for them to just do what I’ve done, because what worked for me might not work for them. I always start by listening.
What I want is for them to take one or two useful things away from our conversations, something that resonates with them personally. I share my life experiences, the challenges I’ve faced, and the lessons I’ve learned, and I encourage them to pick what they feel will make a difference in their own journey.
At the end of our conversations, I like to understand what’s stuck with them and what they plan to apply. If even one thing I’ve said proves useful, then I’ve done my job.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about becoming a mentor with Urban Synergy?
The first thing I’d say is; be a good listener. Don’t just tell young people, “This is how I did it, so you must do it this way too.”
Mentoring isn’t about showing off your achievements. It’s about being authentic. Show them the real journey, the good and the bad and how you navigated through it. When you make it a genuine conversation, it becomes seamless, and young people don’t even realise they’re being mentored. That’s when the real learning happens.