Ground Forum Undergraduate Mentoring Programme
The transition from university to a career in the built environment can be difficult and quite often a daunting change. The Ground Forum seeks to assist the transition, and we consider mentorship a great first step. Our Mentoring scheme aims to encourage and provide support to those with an interest in pursuing a career within the geotechnical sector, and sits within the core aim of the Ground Forum, to make the geotechnical sector and wider construction industry more attractive as a career, as well retaining those already within the sectors.
The programme is now open to applications for the 2024-2025 Academic Year, please use our registration link click here.
If you are interested in signing up as an industry Mentor, or offering a work experience opportunity, please contact gforum@ground-forum.org.uk
We welcome applications from all students to the programme. We would particularly like to hear from Black, Asian and minority ethnic students, women, students from disadvantaged backgrounds, LGBT+ students and students with disabilities, as these groups are currently under-represented in our industry.
How does the programme work?
The Ground Forum, an umbrella organisation for trade associations within the Ground Engineering industry, connects Mentors from across the industry with students from higher education. The Mentoring programme seeks to assist students in increasing their knowledge about their specialist area and strengthen graduate entrants.
The programme opens with a virtual welcome event in the Autumn, where Mentees meet their Mentor. Mentees and Mentors then work together to establish suitable times to meet regularly, whether virtually or face to face. The Ground Forum also runs virtual workshops on CV and Interview Skills throughout the scheme, and students also have the opportunity to participate in work experience with a Member company from our network. Students are encouraged to sign up for LinkedIn, and use this as a place to network and grow the sense of community and their careers connection across the Ground Engineering Industry.
Who is the programme for?
The programme has been designed to inspire students who have an interest in the construction and the geotechnical sectors, who will be supported by mentors that can communicate the opportunities and career rewards to all, including currently under-represented groups such as women, LGBTQ and BAME communities, and concurrently even have a positive impact the ever-present and growing issue of skills shortages.
The aim of the programme is to enable students to feel confident in their career choices, be connected to a network of future drivers for change, and to find their part in multidisciplinary teams at project, programme and portfolio levels.
*Pictured – a student from our 2020 / 2021 Mentoring Scheme during her work experience placement