An innovative mentoring scheme is being launched for the air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump industry.

The ‘Sustain-Ability’ project is a pioneering new mentoring scheme with an initial pilot programme being launched in July, prior to the full launch in September.

Focused on the ACRHP industry, Sustain-Ability will offer a unique opportunity for knowledge exchange between industry professionals at different stages in their careers. The scheme will connect motivated industry professionals as mentors with equally motivated mentees from across the ACRHP sector through an online platform.

Sustain-Ability is enlisting a network of experienced industry professionals to act as accredited mentors. The mentoring relationship offers opportunities for reciprocal growth and learning.

There is a lot of industry focus at present on attracting new young talent into the industry. The Sustain-ability mentoring scheme will work in concert with other initiatives. A successful industry-wide mentoring programme is integral to the drive to close the skills gap and raise industry standards.

Sustain-Ability founder Steve Gill said: 'Mentoring matters. Ask any successful senior person in this industry and they quickly acknowledge that there have been key mentors in their past that have contributed to the success of their career. One problem that the industry is now facing is that as companies have restructured, and as demands upon individual’s time have become greater, as an industry generally, we have less time to do our jobs let alone support those that are coming through.'

One of the major demands on professionals’ time is modern communications; full inboxes, sms messages and so on. However, if harnessed correctly, they provide tools and opportunities that were simply not available in the past. Using an eMentoring approach, it is possible for someone in Aberdeen to mentor a mentee in Exeter, or even in Australia.

The Sustain-Ability Mentoring scheme provides the ultimate opportunity for this industry to sustain and further develop the skills through knowledge transfer.

Steve Gill concluded: 'As an industry, our legacy is what we leave behind. As individuals, our legacy is the people working in this industry long after we have left it. Mentoring is a rich source of self-learning and personal growth. It offers us a tangible difference to the success of others. This might be to help increase their confidence or ability, or support their technical and career success. The ACRHP industry is made up of people. When our enjoyment comes from the difference we make to other people, mentoring becomes a true lasting legacy definition of the term ‘win-win’.'

For more details or if you would like to take part as either a mentor or mentee in the pilot programme, please contact Steve Gill via email: steve@stephengill.eu.