CIWM launches mentoring platform
The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has launched a new mentoring platform for its members to support skills and professional development.
The new platform, called CIWM Mentoring, will enable members who would like the support of a mentor to help with their career progression to connect in an easy and confidential way with experienced CIWM members and Fellows.
Mentors will volunteer their time to provide advice, guidance and coaching to support the professional development of members, including a range of career objectives from developing leadership or communications skills, to finding effective solutions to specific work challenges or to support progress towards achieving Chartered status.
Dr Liz Goodwin OBE, Senior Fellow and Director on Food Loss and Waste at the World Resources Institute (WRI) and one of the first to sign up as a mentor, says: “I was delighted to see that CIWM was setting up a mentoring platform as having a mentor can be invaluable as people develop in their careers – it can be a game changer. I know I have benefited from mentoring in the past and I look forward to helping the aspiring leaders in our sector to fulfill their potential.”
Lisa Hathway, Principal Land Quality Engineer for NHBC, another mentor, added: “CIWM has been instrumental in helping me throughout my career, including finding a mentor when I initially became Chartered. It’s fantastic to have this mentoring platform so that we can support peers across the industry and to know that I can also reach out, if I need to. It’s come at the right time because we now need to support one another more than ever. It looks flexible and really easy to use.”
Skills and training has been a key focus for CIWM, with CIWM President Trevor Nicoll making it a key part of his Presidential Report back in November.
The new platform will allow members to create a profile and search for a mentor with the appropriate knowledge and skill set to help them achieve their goals. Confidential contact can then be made to form a mutually agreed mentor-mentee relationship. A range of resources including short videos with tips on each stage of the process are also available.
CIWM Chief Executive Sarah Poulter said: “Now more than ever, new and improved skills are a high priority for resource and waste professionals as the sector continues to evolve and play its part in serving and protecting communities and the environment while also delivering on the net zero agenda. Connecting with a supportive mentor can be a powerful way of developing your knowledge, expanding your skillset, building your confidence and, ultimately, boosting your career. We are excited to be able to offer this benefit to our members, particularly during these challenging times.”
