Mentoring
Mutual Mentoring Programme
The Analysis Function (AF) vision for Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) is to create a truly diverse and inclusive analysis community that is reflective of the UK society we serve. To support this, this time last year we published our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for 2021 to 2024, which outlines the function we want to create and how we will achieve this.
The AF has launched an important commitment within the strategy: a Mutual Mentoring Programme. Mutual mentoring is a partnership. By combining ‘traditional’ mentoring with reverse mentoring, the programme’s key objectives are:
- to support more senior analysts to increase their understanding of the diverse experiences of, and barriers faced by, AF members, enabling them to consider how to make their own leadership and teams more inclusive
- to empower more junior analysts to discuss their experiences with their seniors, whilst also benefitting from meaningful career discussions and opportunities
Rannia Leontaridi is the Senior Sponsor of the Mutual Mentoring Programme. Rannia is the Director General of Aviation, Maritime and Security at the Department for Transport. She said:
“I am delighted to have taken on the role of Senior Sponsor for Diversity and Inclusion within the Analysis Function (AF) and am committed to supporting the AF to create a truly diverse and inclusive analysis community that is reflective of the UK society we serve.
As a function of roughly 17,000, we must all take full advantage of the opportunity this offers to expand our networks across departments and professions. The AF Mutual Mentoring Programme is a brilliant opportunity to learn from each other. As leaders, we must listen and create safe spaces for colleagues to share their lived experiences, and we must be open to reflecting on our own leadership behaviours and trying something different. This programme will support us to build more inclusive teams within our function and, in turn, will enable our senior leaders to support more junior analysts by offering valuable guidance on development and career progression.”
Rannia Leontaridi Senior Sponsor of the AF Mutual Mentoring Programme
How mutual mentoring works
Mentoring partnerships will be formed between a Senior Civil Servant (SCS) analyst and an analyst who is Grade 6 or below. Both partners will experience being both a mentor and a mentee, with sessions split into two halves to include a reverse mentoring-style discussion about D&I followed by a more traditional mentoring discussion.
Arranging matches outside of your department and core profession, the programme will be a great cross-government networking opportunity. There will also be informal opportunities to meet other programme participants, discuss your experiences and share learning.
Who can take part
For those Grade 6 and below, the programme is open for AF members who consider there to be barriers placed on their career progression in relation to the protected characteristics, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
The programme is open to all Senior Civil Service analysts.
Training
Training sessions will introduce mutual mentoring and will outline expectations of both members in the partnership.
Both members will be asked to sign a mentoring agreement. This will establish agreed ground rules and confidentiality within mentoring partnerships.
Length of the programme
The programme takes place over six months. Mentoring partners will be expected to meet once a month during the programme.
How to join the programme
Applications have now closed for the Analysis Function Mutual Mentoring Programme. Details of the next programme will be shared on this page.
When applications are open, you will need to send a short expression of interest email to apply. To help us to make matches, you will need to include information about your:
- Department
- Profession – don’t worry if you aren’t registered to a particular analytical profession, just let us know your main area of work instead
- Grade
- 100-word Expression of Interest (EOI) statement – please explain your motivations for joining the programme, what you hope to gain from the experience, and what you can offer to a partnership
Please note, we will try to match all interested members with a partner. But in the case of significant interest, the 100-word EOI will be used to select participants.
If you have any questions, please contact Analysis.Function@ons.gov.uk.
Background information
The Mutual Mentoring Programme was developed after a Reverse Mentoring pilot scheme was run in late 2020. You can read more about the transition and the success of the Reverse Mentoring pilot scheme.