Ken Heaton is Sustainability & Community Engagement Manager for facilities management company, Mitie.

After reading an email about Mosaic’s work, which was sent to all of the firm’s employees by Mitie Chief Executive, Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE, Ken signed to become a mentor on Mosaic’s Enterprise Challenge programme.

He explained: “I was interested in Mosaic because the programmes looked wide ranging and different and I was really keen to learn and give something back, while at the same time gain some business benefit for myself and colleagues.”

Working closely with a group of other mentors, including Maqsood Khan, Legal Trainee at the Crown Prosecution Service, Ken mentored a group of students at Ladybridge High School in Bolton. He said: “I wanted to help raise the aspirations of the pupils and give them the confidence and belief that they can succeed in life, regardless of their background.

“I hoped to do so by demonstrating how people within Mitie, some with qualifications and some without, have worked hard and excelled in the business. I also explained the importance and benefits of diversity within business. It is extremely important for us at Mitie and should also be important in all business as everyone is special/ unique.”

The pupils at Ladybridge High School were split into four teams for the purpose of the Enterprise Challenge, of which a focal point is a specialist business simulation game.

Ken explained: “I gave the pupils my experience of running the game and highlighted what I thought worked and did not work. I also emphasised the importance of time management, as in business you often have time pressures to get jobs done. It was also important that I helped the students prepare for the world of work and stressed the importance of teamwork. We all have to work together as a team both now and in the future world of work.”

The winning team at the school went on to compete in the 2016 North West Enterprise Challenge Regional Final, eventually finishing as runners up.

Ken added: “Through mentoring with Mosaic I’ve learned that with a little motivation people’s confidence and belief in themselves can improve. I’ve also realised not to underestimate how good young people can be at delivering projects to a high standard in a short space of time. It was so inspiring!”