How mentoring empowers our colleagues

Here at Welsh Water we are committed to supporting employees to develop their skills and knowledge and one way we do this is through our mentoring programmes.

Mentoring is an impactful, memorable, engaging and bespoke learning and development intervention that helps our colleagues to meet their longer term outcomes so they can progress in their careers.

Through our mentoring we aim to empower, connect as well as enhancing strengths, capability and confidence and increasing self-awareness. We want to raise aspirations and widen horizons for our colleagues. And who better to learn from than their colleagues that have knowledge and experience to share?

We re-launched our mentoring programme in February 2022 and to date we are proud to have matched over 70 mentee and mentors. All receive training and are supported throughout. Our mentoring partnerships last approximately 6 months and participants come from all areas and levels. 100% of participants would recommend the programme and as a business we are seeing real results.

Natasha Vaughan is currently a Customer Engagement Officer, having received a recent promotion from Customer Liaison Officer:

I knew where I wanted to go but it felt like nobody had the answer of how to get there. The mentoring programme put me in touch with the right people. Within a week, my mentor helped me with a job application and interview and I was successful in a role in my desired department. You couldn't make it up. It's opened so many doors for me. It's exactly what I needed. The programme has exceeded my expectations from the beginning. I have a very active mentor who is so informative, and nothing is too much trouble for her. I have answers to all the questions I have asked and the support of making connections when I have wanted it.

Jade Destro is a Payment Services Officer:

I signed up for a mentor so that I could develop my understanding and knowledge on project management, and it has been a success! My mentor has been a great support. We meet regularly and my mentor answers my questions, provides great advice and has put me in touch with other colleagues, expanding my network and knowledge of the business. My expectations have been exceeded.

Princess Onyeanusi has worked with Welsh Water for 7 years as a Customer Advisor. She joined the mentoring programme to learn from someone who has climbed the ladder in the business:

It has been an eye-opening experience for me, I have learnt more about how the organisation works and how to navigate the business for career development. I have a fantastic relationship with my mentor. He is helpful, approachable and honest, our sessions are informative and relaxed. I have benefited in so many ways, I have had CV advice and have been encouraged to explore opportunities outside of my business area, something I would never have done; my mentor has really pushed me out of my comfort zone, something I am grateful for.

Megan Smith works as a Talent Development Coordinator:

This is a new role for me and within my first few months I realised I lacked confidence in certain areas, predominately public speaking and presenting to a large group of people. I felt mentoring would be a brilliant opportunity to learn from someone with experience and knowledge and may possibly be able to help me establish techniques to develop my confidence.

I am currently halfway through the mentoring programme, with another 3 sessions left, and the mentoring sessions have helped me massively. We have been able to discuss and highlight what may potentially affect my confidence, in order to address how I can develop and change my certain ways of thinking. The mentor sessions have allowed me to self-reflect, identify my small-wins and how these make me feel, as well as noting down what I can do when I experience a feeling of self-doubt. I am reminded of what I am good at and as a result, and this gives me more confidence in what I do. I also feel the sessions have effectively encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and take part in daily tasks that will help me gain experience in presenting and public speaking, in order for me to develop my confidence.

Mentoring has encouraged me to think more positively, and I have really enjoyed being able to speak to someone who understands and can provide advice based on their experience in a very relaxed and trusted environment, which makes me feel at ease.

And our mentors develop too. Suzanne Butcher is a Senior Business Account Manager and has worked at Dwr Cymru for over 30 years:

Having recognised that I was fortunate enough to have worked for a few inspirational managers along the way I knew it was the time and effort that they afforded to me that made an enormous difference when I found myself in a place of uncertainty. I saw mentoring as an opportunity to help others who might not be lucky enough to get that one-on-one support.

What I have learned over my career is that I am enthusiastic about people and if I can help a friend, colleague, customer, team to overcome a problem or deliver a solution that is what is important to me.

Being a mentor allows me to work with others who find themselves facing challenges to talk through their concerns in a safe space. This can enable the mentee to identify a solution that works for their issue which can help to build confidence in their ability.

To see a mentee progress and achieve their goals provides me with a great level of satisfaction having been able to assist them in their personal and career development. I have learned so much from all those who I have been fortunate to mentor and gained appreciation and different perspectives from what they have been willing to share. Creating friendships has been the bonus.

I would highly recommend mentoring to anyone who wants to give something back whilst learning and developing yourself along the way.

Matthew Jones is a Public Health and Research Manager, he has been working at Welsh Water for 11 years:

I joined the mentoring programme as a mentor because for the majority of my career in Welsh Water I have worked in the laboratories which by its nature is a bit isolated from the wider business and being part of the mentoring programme has given me an exposure to a variety of areas in the business and developed my understanding of different areas such as IT, dam safety and data which are very different from my day to day role. I also wanted to feel like I am contributing to the wider business by helping people develop within their careers in Welsh Water.

In becoming a mentor, I have benefited significantly in terms of developing my self-confidence as a leader and manager and in my ability to help people unlock their potential and improve a person’s skills and knowledge. The thing I have enjoyed most about mentoring is seeing someone develop and the feeling you get when you see someone work through a challenge or something they want to improve, and you play a part in helping them do this.

Denzel Washington once said: ‘Show me a successful individual and I’ll show you someone who had a real, positive influence in their life’. At Welsh Water we are proud to be able to cheer our colleagues on so they can discover their strengths and become great at what they do.

For current vacancies take a look at our careers website.