A West Yorkshire-based accountancy firm is stepping up its involvement with a national mentoring charity to help disadvantaged youngsters brush up on their business skills and to encourage entrepreneurial spirit.
Hentons chartered accountants in Leeds is teaming up with Mosaic, a national mentoring charity which is part of the Prince’s Trust, to provide a dedicated team of volunteer mentors.
Mosaic is an initiative founded by the Prince of Wales in 2007 to challenge the growing concern around the issues facing young ethnic minorities living in deprived areas of Britain. Mosaic has a clear focus on raising the aspirations of young people growing up in our most deprived communities and in building bridges between communities.
A team of up to six volunteers from the firm led by Waseem Khan, a manager at Hentons will be working in partnership with Mosaic to deliver a mentoring programme at Hanson Academy in Bradford on the Mosaic Enterprise Challenge.
The Mosaic Enterprise Challenge is a national competition for secondary school students across the UK, designed to develop and encourage their entrepreneurial skills. Teams of students work with a mentor from the business community to learn about becoming future business leaders, play a simulation game, and come up with fantastic business ideas.
Waseem has been a long-term supporter of Mosaic and has mentored schoolchildren across West Yorkshire for over five years. In 2015, Waseem was named both regional and national Mosaic mentor of the year from hundreds of dedicated mentors who volunteer their time and expertise.
The Mosaic Enterprise is designed to develop and encourage the entrepreneurial skills of students across the UK. Teams of students work with a mentor from the business community to learn about becoming future business leaders, play a simulation game, and come up with fantastic business ideas that they must pitch to a panel of real business leaders in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style.
Waseem Khan said: “I’ve been very closely involved with Mosaic over the years and this year we are increasing our involvement with the initiative in order to make an even bigger impact. I know how rewarding the programme is and the opportunities it provides to the student can be life changing.
“Mosaic’s Enterprise Challenge is a fantastic competition during which students aged 11-16 learn about establishing and running a business through a business simulation game. It’s unique in that students benefit from being mentored by experienced business professionals who pass on their knowledge and skills about various aspects of business. The competition is fierce and provides a real buzz for all involved with regional heats and a grand final held in London. I hope we can mentor our students from Hanson Academy to great success this year.”
Leading business figures and celebrities have been involved in judging the Enterprise Challenge including Lord Sugar’s righthand man Claude Littner from the Apprentice and former ‘Dragon’ James Caan CBE.
Simon Gray, a partner at Hentons, said: “Mosaic is a wonderful initiative and provides a very positive experience for students and mentors. The advantages really are of mutual benefit. Hentons is delighted to provide support for such an enriching and important initiative.”
