A 20-strong team from Princes have launched a mentoring programme at two Merseyside schools.

They are providing mentoring to a total of 20 Year 12 students at Calderstones School in Liverpool and The Oldershaw School in Wallasey in Wirral.

Each student will receive one-to-one mentoring from a different member of the Princes team over the next 12 months.

The mentoring with the two schools is part of Princes’ partnership with One Million Mentors, a unique community-based mentoring system with the aim of connecting one million young people with one million opportunities.

All the Princes colleagues received training through the programme to equip them with the skills required to be an effective mentor.

The mentoring initiative within Princes is being spearheaded by the company’s Social Mobility Colleague Resource Group (CRG) whose mission is to foster an environment of inclusivity by broadening access to opportunities within Princes for colleagues and applicants from less advantaged socio-economic backgrounds. Today is Social Mobility Day.

Princes is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, has the chance to realise their full potential.

A key focus of the Social Mobility CRG activity is mentoring, supporting young people in communities across the UK to gain the skills, knowledge and networks to achieve their aspirations.

The two schools initially selected for the One Million Mentors partnership with Princes have average or above average levels of students receiving free school meals (pupil premium), and who share Princes mission to ensure every young person can achieve their full potential.

Lee Matthews, from Princes’ Category Management team, is leading the initiative with the two schools.

Lee, who is based at the company’s Royal Liver Building head office in Liverpool, said: “Each of the 20 students will receive monthly mentoring sessions until the end of their school careers. We’ll be helping them look at different options beyond school and what might work best for them.

“We’ve just held our first monthly session and all our mentors came away hugely buoyed by the experience and the potential to really make a difference.

“The scheme follows a structured approach to help us build momentum with the students. The sessions will be a mix of face-to-face and online, a blend that gives students the different communication skills to be able to succeed in the workplace.

“Princes colleagues who have signed up to be mentors come from all levels of our business, ranging from those who have just come out of our graduate scheme through to directors.”

Paul Richards, Head of Year 12/13 & School Careers Lead at Calderstones School, said: “We are delighted to be working with Princes on this mentoring programme which gives our students an opportunity to engage with employees and learn more about the world of work while developing their transferrable skill set.

“It was clear from the first session that the mentoring was going to make a difference. Our students have spoken enthusiastically about the programme and are keen to develop their professional relationship with their mentors and understand the range of career pathways and opportunities there are after they have finished their A Levels.”

Karen Rowles, Careers and Opportunities Manager at The Oldershaw School, said: “This is already proving to be a fantastic opportunity for our students to interact and learn from professionals, and to explore career paths.

“I fully believe that students need to ‘see it to be it’, and this provides exactly that. The mentors have struck up a great working relationship with the students, we’re so pleased to see them growing and learning from these interactions”.

Siwan Smith, Princes’ Inclusion and Diversity Manager, said: “The grocery sector is one of the most accessible for people to get into with a diverse range of roles and different routes to pursue.

“We are doing all that we can to showcase the work that Princes is doing to be a fully inclusive employer in one of the largest and most exciting sectors.”

Zahid Howladar, Chief Commercial Officer at One Million Mentors, said: “One Million Mentors is pleased to be working with Princes, having recently entered Liverpool and launching two local mentoring programmes for young people.

This has been made possible not only thanks to Princes’ corporate sponsorship, but also their provision of volunteers who as professionals will be developing key skills while supporting the next generation of talent. Bringing together young people and employers is important in our mission to improve social mobility and guiding young people to brighter futures through the power of mentoring.”