Mentoring scheme wins international award
UK: Stephen Gill Associates has won an international award for a mentoring scheme dedicated to the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump industry.
First launched in 2015 and relaunched last year, Thermentor.Org – Cool Mentoring has been named as a Gold Medal winner of the Innovative Use of Technology in Human Resources category in the fourth annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards.
The ‘not for profit’ scheme is run by volunteers to help match mentors to mentees across the industry. Unlike conventional schemes, which are typically in-house and face-to-face, this mentoring process is carried out by hybrid e-mentoring employing an intelligent use of technologies available, such as email, SMS, and video-conferencing.
The aim of the scheme is to supply the international RACHP industry with short-term periods of quality mentoring at a distance. Since its initial pilot scheme in 2015 a total of 110 pairs from 12 countries across four continents have taken part in the scheme.
The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are the only business awards programme to recognise innovation in the workplace in all 22 nations of the Asia-Pacific region. The Stevie Awards are widely considered to be the world’s premier business awards, conferring recognition for achievement in programmes such as The International Business Awards for fifteen years.
Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for “crowned,” the awards will be presented to winners at a gala banquet at the Hilton Hotel in Tokyo on June 2.
“We are absolutely delighted and thrilled to have won this prestigious award,” said Steve Gill, the scheme’s founder. “This is a true success made possible by volunteers with an innovative idea and a pioneering approach. Everyone needs a mentor. The Cool Mentoring programme has provided considerable benefits for the mentees, the mentors and the RACHP industry.”
Mentees are said to have reported improved self-confidence, receipt of career advice, extensive networking opportunities, and increased technical knowledge. Mentors also gained from the mentoring relationship. Benefits have included improved job and personal satisfaction, a greater insight into their own level of knowledge, and increased interest in international aspects of the industry. The RACHP industry is seen to benefit from a raising of skills and retention of knowledge within the industry.
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