BLOG: What Difference can One Hour of Mentoring Really Make?

For one sixth-form student, mentoring provided much more than career advice. It offered confidence, connections and someone willing to listen at a pivotal point in her journey.

At OCL, supporting and mentoring young people is an important part of our commitment to creating social value and helping the next generation discover the opportunities available to them – both within construction and beyond.

Through Essex County Council’s We Rise Mentoring Programme, members of the OCL team give their time to support young people as they navigate some of the biggest decisions about their education and future careers.

For sixth-form student Heshali – that support came at an important moment in her journey.

Her route through education hasn’t been straightforward. Like many young people, she has had to adapt when things haven’t gone to plan, finding alternative routes to continue working towards her ambitions.

But Heshali didn’t give up.

After successfully completing a Level 2 BTEC, she was able to pursue the academic route she had always wanted, going on to study A-levels in Maths, Accounting and Engineering.

Fast-track to today and Heshali has completed her A-level exams and is predicted A*AA.

An incredible achievement – and one that reflects the determination, resilience and ambition Heshali has shown throughout her journey.

As she began considering what should come next, however, she faced another challenge familiar to many young people: navigating the range of options available and understanding which route would be right for her.

Without the right guidance, making decisions about university, apprenticeships and future careers can feel daunting – particularly when those decisions could shape the next stage of a young person’s life.

This is where mentoring can make such a difference.

It isn’t about providing all the answers. It’s about listening, helping a young person explore their options, opening up connections and opportunities, and giving them greater confidence to make informed decisions about their future.

Sometimes young people just need someone in their corner

Over the past year, Heshali has had regular mentoring conversations with OCL’s Marketing & Communications Lead, Varsha Patel, through the We Rise Mentoring Programme.

An hour at a time, every month or two.

Time to talk. Time to ask questions. Time to explore possibilities. And, importantly, time with someone willing to listen and offer advice.

Those conversations have helped her grow in confidence, make new connections, explore career opportunities and gain greater clarity about what her future could look like.

“Having someone outside of school and my family who I could speak openly with made such a difference. Varsha didn’t tell me what I should do – she helped me understand what my options were and introduced me to contacts that could help me gain work experience and advice around my HE options. Having someone believe in me and encourage me to think bigger gave me confidence when I really needed it.” – Heshali

For Varsha, mentoring Heshali has been equally rewarding.

“Heshali already had the determination, professionalism and resilience. Hearing her story left me in awe of her – the mindset and passion she has shown at such a young age is remarkable. My role was simply to carve out an hour a month to listen, encourage and help see the potential that was already there.” – Varsha

Why mentoring young people matters

We often think that supporting the next generation means providing a job, apprenticeship or work experience placement.

Those opportunities matter enormously.

But mentoring can start much earlier.

Having access to professionals outside their immediate family or school environment can give young people an opportunity to ask questions, explore different careers, build connections and develop the confidence to pursue opportunities they might otherwise have thought weren’t for them.

Sometimes the most valuable thing a business can offer is remarkably simple:

Our time.

Someone who listens without judgement. Someone who asks the right questions. Someone who shares their experience. Someone who can open a door.

And occasionally, someone who sees potential in a young person before they fully see it themselves.

OCL’s commitment to mentoring the next generation

Mentoring forms part of OCL’s wider commitment to social value in construction and creating a positive impact within the communities in which we work.

Several members of our Senior Leadership Team have given their time to support the We Rise Mentoring Programme, helping young people build confidence and explore their future careers.

Last year, OCL Managing Director James Harris mentored student Logan Stanley, who was considering a future in construction. With James’ guidance and support, Logan went on to secure a trainee role with the National Infrastructure Consultancy.

Alongside mentoring, OCL continues to work with schools and young people through initiatives including our award-winning Girls Can Build programme, careers events, work experience and volunteering.

It’s all part of the same ambition: helping more young people recognise the opportunities available to them and giving them the confidence and connections to pursue them.

Heshali’s journey is an extraordinary example of what determination can achieve – and a powerful reminder of why businesses giving their time to mentor young people matters.

Because one hour might not feel like much to us.

But to the right young person, at the right moment, it could help change what they believe is possible.

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