This year the SMF, in partnership with Centrica, launched a new development opportunity for nine SMF students. The pilot programme was the first of its kind to offer students our complementary supports of e-mentoring and internships, alongside an ongoing insight into the graduate recruitment processes of a leading graduate employer.

The students were first matched up with volunteer mentors from Centrica and communicated online via our secure mentoring website. Mentoring relationships usually continue for six months and mentors offer advice about university and information about careers in their chosen industry.

Centrica mentors also offered tips on preparing for a mock interview day, held in July and designed to mimic a graduate assessment centre, and guidance on completing an online application form, designed especially for the SMF Scheme and which was uploaded onto the careers section of the Centrica website.

At their assessment day, the students were interviewed by another mentor and then received feedback on their technique from their own mentor, who sat in to observe. They also received feedback on their written answers to competency questions on the online application form. The mentees were then rewarded for all their hard work with lunch and a bowling trip with their mentors.

The final part of the programme was a two-week internship shadowing their mentors in Centrica offices in Slough and Windsor.

A group of four attached to Centrica Energy, who had researched the future of energy, were invited to make a presentation on their findings to Centrica chief executive Sam Laidlaw.

Student Warda Ali said of the presentation: “We were nervous but he was very approachable. He said our presentation was good and he went on to give us advice about university and our working life, saying we should try two or three things before deciding on a career.”

“Before this, I’d only stood in front of a room full of classmates. All of a sudden I was faced with about 20 strangers,” she said.

“It was great experience to give a presentation, especially as I’ll now have to do an interview to get a place at university, where I hope to study economics,” she added.

Warda’s mentor, Power Analyst Inderpal Bola said: “It was a useful learning experience for us as well as for them.”

“The placement has helped be hone my interviewing skills and encouraged others to talk about their job, “ he said.

Another SMF student, Manpreet Kaur said: “It was a really enjoyable experience and I met so many different people, every day was different, challenging and exciting.”

Rebecca Ameson also found the programme extremely valuable: “My experience at Centrica exceeded my expectations. It was a chance for me to see what my future could be like, and it’s definitely given me something to aspire to, “ she said.

Arthur Odoom agreed: ‘Being a part of a prestigious team of finance professionals was really intriguing. If I had a chance to go back, I would definitely go and hopefully for longer, “ he said.

The SMF would like to thank Eva Malecki and Matt Berry at Centrica for organising the placements and all the mentors who volunteered for the programme. We hope to be able to offer a similar opportunity in the future.