Ismail Amla, Mosaic Board member and Partner at Capco led a visit as part of The Prince’s Seeing is Believing programme involving a dozen senior business leaders to see for themselves Mosaic’s work on the ground.

The visit, which took place on Friday 11 November, started at the headquarters of Marks and Spencer in Paddington, London where the delegates met with students from three London schools who are being supported through Mosaic’s secondary school programme. The students spent half a day with the M&S clotheswear teams to talk directly to those responsible for bringing new products into the shops, followed by a visit to all areas of the M&S flagship Edgeware Road store . The delegates learned how the students had grown in confidence through their sessions with their volunteer mentors and how they know had far greater understanding of the business world through the Mosaic-organised World of Work visits.

The delegates then went to Crest Girls Academy in Neasden to take part for themselves in a live mentoring sessions. The delegates were asked to conduct mock interviews with Year 10 students, providing feedback on the girls’ presentation skills and ability to field questions. The tables were then turned as the students were then able to provide feedback on the delegates’ interview technique!

The delegates, which included senior lawyers, business people, civil servants and even a published author, were extremely positive about what they had seen and the powerful impact that mentors can have on building the confidence, employability and sense of self-belief through Mosaic’s framework of support for young people in disadvantaged communities.

Ismail Amla said “These sessions which demonstrate the commitment and excellence of Mosaic volunteers and the potential of our mentees never cease to inspire and today was no different. From the confident young adults we met in Marks and Spencers to the ambitious girls at Crest academy, it is clear that the work championed by Mosaic is making a difference to the lives of young people from different backgrounds. I am certain that the business leaders on the visit will have seen the potential in the young people they met today and the difference they can make. I look forward to working with them on a regular basis to help make a sustainable change through Mosaic.”

Jonathan Freeman, National Director of Mosaic, said “We are hugely grateful for the time the delegates took to learn more about Mosaic’s important work and delighted that so many have pledged immediately to support our work moving forward.”