Networking group Manchester Young Professionals (MYP) is opening applications for its sought-after 2023 Mentoring Programme this month (February 9th).
They’re inviting professionals across the area to take advantage of the free and cross-industry initiative before spaces fill up. It will see like-minded individuals paired up to offer invaluable insights, knowledge and guidance that will give them an edge in the world of work and beyond.
The fourth cohort of MYP Mentoring will take place from February to December – and people can apply to be a mentor, mentee or both – depending on what stage of their career they’re in.
Each mentee will be connected with a suitable mentor, who will provide expert guidance and specific advice covering all areas of career progression, including applications, networking, building connections within their industry, as well as support with development plans.
While the mentoring programme launched in 2021, MYP was founded in 2013 by Rich Tyrrell and Andrew Bennie, after they noticed a lack of opportunities to connect with their peers outside of work. The pair set out to bring people together, both personally and professionally, across hundreds of fun and accessible networking events in Manchester.
Using a free online Personality Questionnaire, and carefully considering a combination of industry, educational background, university, outside-of-work interests and respective objectives, MYP follows a robust matching process after applications are received through the website.
Whether you’re a Trainee, Undergraduate, Associate or Director, there will be opportunities to develop and also to learn from others in the MYP community.
Since the start of the mentoring programme, MYP has matched more than 200 mentors and mentees. Mentees are led by the objectives of their relevant mentors through regular calls, emails and face-to-face catch-ups.
One success story is from Manchester-based Alexis Holt, Adidas’ paid Search Assistant Manager, who entered the mentoring program in 2021 for assistance in self-development and professional advancement and was paired with mentor, Alex Di Giuseppe.
Since then, Alexia has claimed much of her skill set, knowledge and confidence were enhanced by this pairing, contributing to her success at Adidas. She became the proud winner of the ‘’Most Confident Performance’’ award at this year’s EU Superstar Awards, as a result of her dedication to her role.
Alexia attributes her recent award to her mentor, a connection that was established as part of MYP’s mentoring scheme: “Paramount to my success is the project involvement and guidance I’ve been lucky to have had by my mentor Alex Di Giuseppe”.
The scheme continues to grow and get great results for applicants. For more details or to apply to be part of the next intake, simply complete the sign-up form here from Thursday 9th February.
Megan Ritchie, Client Service Executive at Manchester-based digital marketing Embryo, revealed how the programme was instrumental in her career progression: “As I’d recently moved into a new role within my existing company (and into a new department), the programme came at such a good time to help broaden my skillset and help equip me for this new role.
“I was paired with someone in a similar role to me but more senior, so she was the perfect person to learn from. We’d set agendas for our sessions and cover different topics, but even just the tips and tricks I learnt for the day-to-day of my role were super helpful!
“By the end of the programme, I’d already been promoted internally – I strongly believe my experience in the mentorship programme assisted that. Having a mentor external to your place of work just adds another element to your development – and it’s one I can’t recommend highly enough!”
Rich Tyrrell, co founder of Manchester Young Professionals, said:
“Since Andrew and I moved to Manchester, we noticed there wasn’t really anything out there like this that was inclusive, that was free to come along to or be a part of. MYP has continued to grow and we are lucky to have run hundreds of successful events over the years, experiencing so many new venues that this city has to offer – it really is a great time to be in Manchester.
“We’re excited to be opening applications for our fourth cohort. With a growing, dynamic and diverse young professionals community, and taking on board positive and constructive feedback from our first two cohorts of mentors and mentees, we’re looking for individuals from the MYP Community to develop one another and build up your network in the process.
“Each mentee will be assigned a mentor who they have something in common with, be it sector, degree background, university or outside of work interests. We’re encouraging people to apply for the 2023 Mentoring programme before spaces fill up. But, if you do miss out this time, the next application window will open again in January 2024.
“Because MYP is all about connecting people, we are excited to hold our first mentoring event to launch this intake. It will take place at our Breakfast Club at Albert’s Schloss on Thursday 9th February where applicants have the opportunity to connect face-to-face.
“Check out our events page for more information on how to get involved.”
