The Analysis Function Mutual Mentoring programme is back!

The Analysis Function (AF) vision for Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) is to create a truly diverse and inclusive analysis community that represents the UK society we serve. We published our D&I Strategy for 2021 to 2024 to support this aim. The Strategy gives details about the function we want to create and how we will achieve this.

One of the main commitments in the Strategy is our Mutual Mentoring programme, which we have re-launched this week. Mutual mentoring is a partnership which combines “traditional” mentoring with reverse mentoring.

The main aims of the Mutual Mentoring programme are to:

• support more senior analysts to increase their understanding of the diverse experiences of AF members and the barriers they may face — this will enable senior analysts to consider how to make their own leadership and teams more inclusive
• give more junior analysts the opportunity to discuss their experiences with their seniors, whilst also benefiting from meaningful career discussions and opportunities

How the Mutual Mentoring programme works

Mentoring partnerships will be formed between a senior partner and a more junior analyst who are at least two grades apart. For example, a Higher Executive Officer (HEO) junior partner would be matched with an analyst at Grade 7 or above. A Grade 7 junior partner would be matched with a Deputy Director. Both partners will experience being both a mentor and a mentee. Sessions will be split into two halves to include a reverse mentoring-style discussion about D&I followed by a more traditional mentoring discussion.

The programme will be a great cross-government networking opportunity. We aim to partner you with someone outside of your department and core profession. There will also be informal opportunities to meet other programme participants, discuss your experiences and share learning.

Who can take part

Junior partners

The programme is open to AF members at Grade 6 or below who consider there to be barriers placed on their career progression in relation to their protected characteristics, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. You will be matched with someone at least two grades above you.

Senior partners

This year, we have widened eligibility for the senior partner role. This is because Grade 6 and 7 colleagues can also offer meaningful career conversations and opportunities for more junior members of the AF. This means the programme is open to all Senior Civil Servants (SCS) and colleagues at Grade 6 and Grade 7 level.

Training

Training sessions will be held online in late May 2023. The sessions will introduce mutual mentoring and will explain the expectations of both members in the partnership.

Both members of a mutual mentoring partnership will be asked to sign a mentoring agreement. This will establish agreed ground rules and confidentiality within mentoring partnerships.

Time commitment

Mentoring partnerships will be expected to meet once a month between June and November 2023.

How to sign up

If you are interested in taking part, please complete our online application form by close of business on Tuesday 2 May 2023.

Please note, we will try to match all interested members with a partner. But if there are too many applicants we will use the 150-word expression of interest to select participants.

Contact us

If you have any questions, please contact Analysis.Function@ons.gov.uk.