INTRODUCTION, BY FAY SHARPE, FOUNDER OF FAST FORWARD 15
As founder of FF15 I am proud to have seen the sucess as we are welcoming our 8th year of mentees and mentors to the Fast Forward 15 programme. I have also been busy developing other bespoke mentoring programmes for corporates including IMEX which will see us broaden our offering to mentor professionals within curated mentoring for business. Within the FF15 programme I am encouraged to see such positive results. Throughout the year we have already registered multiple achievements amongst the mentees from improved career prospects and role promotions, to increased levels of confidence and a clear vision of personal and professional goals. The commitment and dedication from both the mentors and mentees reflects their passion for our industry and the external support we receive continuously reinforces the importance of this programme in our sector. The motivation behind the initiative still remains paramount as when I look back to when I started Zibrant 30 years ago (now part of BCD Meetings and Events), the landscape in the MICE industry has changed dramatically. Consistent and solid growth means our industry is now valued at £43 billion. Growth in the sector has prompted a shift change in the academic aspects of our industry too, with many universities offering courses in events and hospitality, the uptake always high. With 75% of our industry being female, progression and the advancement of women up the ranks has always been a critical element of how I have developed the culture of my own organisations. For me, its about genuine equality through putting processes into place resulting in happy and motivated staff. A key part of this is mentoring, something which I have benefited from, and I strive to inspire others to do the same. We are not alone in this quest, in the UK, the business and executive search communities have also taken the lead, with initiatives in place to develop candidates by providing opportunities to gain visibility, exposure and confidence. Mentoring is favored as a preferred method of achieving this growth and personal development. The Fast Forward 15 mentoring programme is a not for profit initiative spanning across our industry, giving access to and insight from some of the leaders in our field; an inspiring portfolio of influential and select talent who are willing to share their knowledge and experience with our stars of the future. The programme runs for a 12 month period during which time mentees and their mentor work together to achieve objectives and goals. The programme includes 2 group workshops and monthly one to one mentoring and concludes with a graduation ceremony. Supported by industry leaders from both agency and corporate environments the programme is endorsed by the HBAA, MPI and Women's Business Council. I look forward to welcoming the 2020 applicants and another exciting and successful year ahead within new arenas.
