Peter Hansford among mentors at CIC 2050 Speed Mentoring event

CIC's 2050 Group’s second speed mentoring event, hosted by Argent at its King’s Cross office in Central London on 28 August, was enthusiastically attended by mentors and mentees from across the construction sector.

Mentors included Peter Hansford, Chief Construction Adviser; Jane Duncan, (next President RIBA); Anthony Peters and Peter Runacres (Argent LLP); CIC Chairman Tony Burton; Michael Wadood (President CABE, MLM Building Control); Vaughan Burnand (VEB Lean); Trudi Elliot (RTPI); Conor Ellis (EC Harris), John Eynon (Director, Open Water Consulting), Mary Rose Griffiths (Partner, Gardiner & Theobald), Pippa Higgins (Crossrail Stations West/Taylor Woodrow), Andrew Link (CIC), Tristan McDonnell (ARUP), David Miller (David Miller Architects), Tom Makokha (Monaghans), Robin Nicholson (Cullinan Studios), Richard Saxon CBE, Dale Sinclair (AECOM) and Graham Stallwood (Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea).

Made up of young professionals from across the industry, the CIC 2050 group is keen to promote inter generational knowledge transfer and to develop and influence the construction industry of the future. During 45 minutes, 20 mentees were each given 15 minutes with three mentors. Mentees were able to ask about career paths and opportunities, and to talk about experiences and challenges they face today. This was followed by an opportunity to carry on networking over a few drinks.

Mentees came from across the sector and included employees of: Argent, ARUP, Buro Happold, Balfour Beatty, Barbara Weiss Architects, Berkeley Homes, Gratte Brothers, John Lewis Partnership/Waitrose, TfL, Waterman Group and Willmott Dixon.

At the close of the event Peter Hansford had this to say: “I think it was very good indeed. It’s good that they [mentees] have three different mentors because no mentor is correct, and any advice that the mentors give is only their opinion. So to be able to balance that with views from other people is really important. I think the process works really well and I hope that the little bit of advice we can give is of some value.”

Other mentors commented: “I was asked some very difficult questions that challenged me. I feel like I’ve learnt a lot too”.

“It’s great to be involved. We talked about things that I could recognise from when I was young and I wish I’d had the opportunity to speak to someone outside my organisation then; it would have been really valuable I think”.

From the mentees, the reaction was similarly positive: “I came with no expectations. I’ve never done anything like this before and I was very positively surprised. I had open, honest conversations.”

“It was an extremely useful and effective 45 minutes of my time and I would definitely do it again.”

“Having just started a new job, I thought I might have benefitted from this more six months ago, but how wrong was I! I realise now that having an opportunity like this is invaluable, and maybe more so when you’ve started a new job!

Louise Clarke (Chair of the CIC 2050 Group) said “It is vital for young professionals at the early stages of their career to be able to benefit from the experiences of those who are preceding them. I am delighted to have another event under our belt and I look forward to getting speed mentoring on to the agendas of construction companies and institutions throughout the UK“.

The next CIC 2050 Group speed mentoring events will take place on 6 November 2014 in Leeds, London, Manchester and Newcastle, kindly supported by Gardiner &Theobald and the CIC regional committees. Those wishing to take part should contact Liz Drummond, ldrummond@cic.org.uk

Photo by John Sturrock.