McBains colleagues support next generation through SEGRO mentoring programme

The mentoring programme is designed to give young people practical guidance, confidence and insight into career pathways within the built environment and beyond.

Lewis Brailli, Danyal Khan, George Ndirangu and Karen Tai volunteered as mentors, each being paired with a student mentee for a series of six one-to-one structured sessions. Mentors and mentees were carefully matched based on shared interests such as subject choices, career aspirations and hobbies, helping to foster strong and meaningful relationships.

The programme combined virtual and in-person engagement, with most sessions taking place via Microsoft Teams, alongside a dedicated face-to-face session hosted at the McBains office. This provided an opportunity for mentees to experience a professional workplace environment while discussing their ambitions in more depth.

Throughout the programme, mentors supported students across a range of practical topics essential for entering the world of work. These included developing action plans, CV and cover letter writing, interview preparation, as well as broader life skills such as time management and money management.

Reflecting on her experience, Karen Tai highlighted the value of sharing real-life insights with her mentee (Navreet) and said:

"Through regular conversations, I was able to offer guidance and encouragement as Navreet explored pathways towards securing a Degree Apprenticeship. The mentoring relationship created a supportive space for discussing goals, building confidence and preparing for future opportunities. It’s been a tremendously rewarding experience, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Navreet”.

The programme concluded with a celebration event on Monday 8th June, where mentors and mentees came together to mark their achievements. The four McBains volunteers attended alongside their mentees, celebrating the progress made over the course of the programme. As part of the event, students were invited on stage to receive certificates recognising their participation and commitment.

For George Ndirangu it was a particularly poignant experience, having been involved in a similar youth development initiative himself run by Young Enterprise and Brentford Football Club. George commented:

George commented: “I found the mentorship programme incredibly fulfilling, as I was able to help a young person by giving them direction and helping them to look ahead to working life. It was a full circle moment for me, as I was mentored and helped by a very similar programme when I was a similar age”.

The SEGRO Mentoring Programme forms part of a wider effort to connect young people with industry professionals, helping to break down barriers to entry and provide access to networks and knowledge that can be difficult to obtain otherwise. Through initiatives like this, organisations across the sector are working collaboratively to inspire the next generation and support more diverse talent pipelines.