Mark Haslam, Environment Agency
Mark Haslam
Area Environment Manager
Environment Agency
Mark joined the Scheme in 2007.
What motivated you to become a mentor?
Coaching and mentoring staff is part of the way we work in the Environment Agency, so it seemed like a logical step to get involved with mentoring students who are interested in the work we do. It's a way of helping them to clarify what they want out of their career or studies, making contacts for the Environment Agency with the wider community, promoting who we are and what we do and letting graduates know that we are a potential employer. There is also a lot of personal satisfaction in helping someone along with their career and helping them grow and develop.
What activities did you organise for your mentees?
I usually talk to my mentees about what they are currently doing, what they have done in the past and what they would like to do in future and provide further clarity on this if necessary. We then look at the gap between where they are now and where they want to be in future and what can be done about it. Activities with the Environment Agency usually include work experience for a couple of days or longer in some cases and in the past have involved groundwater and contaminated land, ecological appraisal and environment management. We have also run sessions on improving CVs, interview techniques and mock interviews for students about to start job hunting.
What did you find most enjoyable?
I enjoy talking to the students and working with them to clarify what they want and how best to go about it and then helping them out wherever I can.
What were the outcomes for you/your organisation?
Outcomes for us have been a raised profile as an employer in the local area, good links with the University of Derby, promotion of our organisation in a positive way and potential recruitment of quality graduates.
Would you do it again?
Yes I would definitely do it again. I have met some great people and we have also successfully recruited one of our previous mentees to a full time role.
What advice would you give to potential mentors?
To approach it with an open mind but to ensure that you have a structured process to run through in order to guide the mentees to their chosen goals.
