SEP volunteers refresh their skills

The Senior Executive Programme works with Senior Executives, retired and semi-retired managers to assist voluntary, community organisations and social enterprises on specific issue based projects or to offer general advice and support. The SEP members offer support on a voluntary basis and advice to organisations which typically do not have sufficient resources to access professional services. Volunteers provide business management support, business planning, strategic planning, finance, HR, marketing and mentoring, or augment the skills at board level. SEP works closely with a broad range of projects, prioritizing those supporting the entrepreneurial development of young people, helping jobless people back into work, regeneration projects, social enterprises, projects in areas of deprivation and groups run by disadvantaged people. The focus of activity is building the capacity and sustainability of the organizations by adding skills at Board level, marketing, improving operational effectiveness, or strengthening procedures and reporting processes.

There is an increasing demand from community and partner organisations for mentoring support to augment the skills of staff, board members or even school pupils. With the wealth of senior level business experience held by the volunteers, SEP is well positioned to provide mentoring support to individuals and organisations.

It’s very important to make sure that the Volunteers are supported to feel confident in what they are doing. To that end, when the SEP co-ordinators suggested that the Volunteers might like some refresher training on mentoring skills, SBC felt it was important to respond. On 6^th March, SEP Volunteers in Angus are coming together to have some facilitated training, which will underpin the skills they have developed throughout their careers and voluntary activity. This will roll out across the other networks, with the possibility of some networks coming together to train as peers and share experiences.