School of Politics and International Studies

Mentoring Opportunities for BAME Women

03 February 2010 |

Race for Opportunity's 2008 report, Race to the Top revealed that just 6.8%, as one in 15 Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic workers, were in a management position, furthermore just 34.1% of senior managers from a BAME background are women.

In addition the recent 2009 Female FTSE report found there are only 11 BAME women on FTSE 100 boards of which none are british nationals.

One of the recommendations from the Race to the Top report was to organise workplace mentoring, support employee networks and provide credible role models.
With this in mind the overall objective of the programme is to help progress the career prospects of BAME women, to help readdress this imbalance.

The cross sector membership base of Business in the Community means that we are able to utilise our relationships to offer a unique mentoring and networking scheme to ambitious BAME women across level and organisation, encouraging progression in multiple workplaces. The mentoring circle format delivery complements this cross organisational approach; maximises the use of the leader’s time by mentoring a group and is an effective way to utilise informal peer support networking.

The circles will be held in February and April 2010, in London, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham. The sessions will be for two and a half hours, a theme for discussion will be set, the lead mentor will present for the first half hour, facilitate an active learning set with the group, concluding with a half hour of networking. A training workshop will be delivered for all lead mentors in January.

This session will provide the opportunity for senior managers to gain more information about applying for a public appointment post. Maggie Semple OBE of the Experience Corps will present and share her experience of the process.

Places are limited for each session therefore if you are interested in participating in any aspect of the programme register on www.trif.org.uk/rfo/register.htm.

Contact Maria Petnga-Wallace on 07789 713 209 or maria.petnga-wallace@bitc.org.uk for more information.