WIREDGOV

This annual scheme is now open for applications from SMEs wishing to be mentored and from organisations wishing to provide mentoring.

Business mentors can help you develop your ideas for growth by sharing their skills, expertise, experience and contacts. They can help small businesses navigate through the maze of nuclear decommissioning opportunities.

This scheme reopened for applications in February 2016.

Participation is for 2 years, with the opportunity to finish early if both parties agree that their goals have been achieved.

This is a volunteer scheme. We do our best to match up mentors and mentees, but it cannot be guaranteed.

You can:

• meet your mentor/mentee either online or face-to-face on a regular basis
• learn about opportunities, pose questions and exchange ideas in a closed LinkedIn group

How to apply for mentoring

All UK-based SMEs are eligible to apply to become a mentee, regardless of industrial background, but must aspire to work in nuclear decommissioning or have an existing involvement.

Closing date for applications: 15 April 2016.

Please complete application form and submit to supplychain@nda.gov.uk

Mentee application form

Mentoring scheme application guidance 

How to apply to be a mentor

Closing date for applications: 15 April 2016

We welcome applications from qualified and experienced nuclear professionals with experience across the main areas of the NDA estate supply chain.

Please complete short pro forma CV and submit to supplychain@nda.gov.uk for consideration by the scheme supervisory panel.

Mentor application form

Mentoring scheme application guidance 

Once accepted as a mentor, the NDA will contact you to arrange mentor training.

Background

This scheme is one of a portfolio of initiatives to support SMEs as part of the NDA SME Action Plan and ongoing commitment to create an open playing field for the supply chain.

Previous participants include mentors and mentees from engineering, design, logistics, legal and consulting businesses alongside some key nuclear players from the nuclear industry, as well as further afield.

The NDA have paired 70 businesses through 2 cohorts of the SME Mentor Scheme since 2012.

The Supervisory Panel is made up of SME consultants and NDA supply chain development team. This panel:

• oversees the scheme
• allocates mentors to mentees
• arranges training workshops
• review sessions
• provides objective advice
• supports mentors and mentees

The scheme is supported by micro-SMEs, Davies Nuclear Associates Ltd and Beehive Coaching and Leadership Development Ltd.

NDA Supply Chain Manager, Sam Dancy, says:

The scheme assists smaller businesses improve their understanding of the decommissioning sector and how it operates.

Mentoring is a partnership so I hope that it will help the mentors gain a greater understanding of the capability and capacity of the SME community which may help break down some of the perception issues surrounding this area of our market.

Previous participants say:

It’s an invaluable experience. To have chance to work with such a senior level of insight and input…it’s a rare opportunity to talk so candidly and share the SME perspective and how strategic, even national decisions impact on a business like ours.

Aidan McManus (mentee)

We are talking about the right things. I’m enjoying this mentoring scheme so much that if I was to retire in the near future, I’d continue to do the mentoring. Imagine having built up all those skills, knowledge and intimate experience of the nuclear sector and being able to use and share with others.

Harry Strong (mentor)