The UHR Mentoring scheme is open to all UHR members and aims to pair mentors with mentees to develop specific areas of expertise related to human resources. A key objective of the scheme is to support members and help them to develop and achieve specific goals which they set for themselves. In the majority of matches, it is envisaged that mentors and mentees will be from different institutions. This also helps to encourage cross-sector networking and engagement, another key objective of the scheme.
Anyone can be a mentor if they have skills to pass on, with the only requirements being to have the time and commitment to participate. Mentees can be any UHR member who would find it useful to have a neutral mentor who can help them achieve specific objectives that they set for themselves. It is also completely possible to sign up as both a mentor and a mentee, offering support and guidance on areas of expertise that you possess, and seeking the same from others on areas you wish to develop.
The scheme is centrally managed and administered by UHR via a software platform called SUMAC. Users sign up by completing a sign-up form on our in-house developed SUMAC site. The system uses an algorithm to match partners, based on their preferences. Mentees are then contacted about potential matches and can accept or decline. If they accept, the mentor is contacted and informed that a match has been made. The onus is on the mentee to make the first contact and complete the Mentoring Contract (see below), which must then be agreed and signed by both parties before the first meeting takes place. Bother partners must also sign a Confidentiality Agreement.
A UHR Mentoring Handbook and Code of Conduct are being developed and we will ask both mentors and mentees to read these in full to ensure they understand the scheme and what is expected of them and their partner.
