Scoring a double in national ethnic scheme

For the fourth consecutive year the University of Teesside and regional employers have achieved success in a National Scheme that aims to improve the prospects of UK Black and Asian undergraduate students. The National Mentoring Consortium Ethnic Minority Undergraduate Mentoring Scheme involves students from 11 UK Universities. The winners of Mentor and Mentee of the Year, selected by the University, received their awards from David Lammy MP, at a ceremony in London.

Through the scheme, high calibre ethnic minority students are matched with a range of employers, to help prepare them for careers. Azhar Fazil, 20, from Middlesbrough was awarded the title of Mentee of the year, after being nominated by his Mentor, Nigel Jessop, Front Line Manager with the Inland Revenue at Teesdale, Thornaby.

Nigel, 39, said: “Azhar was organised, enthusiastic, punctual and committed. He also wanted to find out more about our organisation. The scheme is excellent and provides so many opportunities.”

Azhar has just completed the second year of a BSc (Hons) degree in Information Technology and he is a former pupil of Acklam Grange School and Middlesbrough College. Azhar said: “I’ve learned a lot about the organisation, its IT systems, recruitment procedures and the different posts available. The placement’s given me an insight into the world of work and improved my communication skills and self-confidence. I feel very proud to win the award, I think the placement will really help me in my future career.”

The second award went to Eamonn Leavey of the John Lewis Partnership, for Mentor of the Year. Eamonn is a department manager for the John Lewis store in Newcastle, and was nominated by his Mentee, David Singh, who has just completed a BA (Hons) degree in Marketing at the University.

David, 20, is a former pupil of Brackenhoe School and Teesside Tertiary College. He said: “I nominated Eamonn because of his commitment to the Scheme and we had a really good working relationship. He arranged for me to spend a day at the Newcastle store, a day at the Marketing Department in the company’s Head Office in London. I also had a mock interview, with feedback afterwards. That was extremely useful. The whole placement was a really good opportunity to see how Marketing theory translates into practice and see how a real organisation works.”

Eamonn, 47, is originally from London and has worked for John Lewis for 29 years, with the last 17 based in Newcastle. He said: “I was really honoured and delighted to win the win the award. It was quite a surprise at the ceremony. David really progressed in terms of personal development and his awareness of business. The scheme is so important, giving students from an ethnic background an insight into the business world.”

To join this year’s scheme you should be a full-time, undergraduate, British black or Asian student at the University of Teesside. For more details e-mail jane.simpson@tees.ac.uk or check the University’s web site at www.tees.ac.uk/careers.

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