This year’s peer circle event brought together top minds in the world of traineeships at Enexis Groep’s office in Den Bosch. The day kicked off with coffee, warm greetings, and an exchange of ideas as attendees introduced themselves and shared insights about their respective company traineeship programs. There was a fantastic mix of experiences, from those who are building up their traineeships, to those with 20+ years of experience.
It wasn’t just about connecting, though—it was about setting the tone for the day and building a community of innovation and collaboration.
Setting the Stage
The hackathon’s facilitator, Tom Vuorinen (Groupmapping), led the day’s discussions with a focus on mentorship—a theme that everyone in the room could relate to, whether as traineeship managers, mentors, or mentees. Tom’s goal? To squeeze the most out of our time together by creating space for open dialogue and idea-sharing.
Jeske van Boxtel, from Enexis Groep, took the stage early on. As last year’s Best Traineeship Young Talent Manager of the Year and leader of the award-winning Enexis traineeship program, Jeske brought invaluable insights. Her presentation offered a detailed look at how the Enexis management traineeship unfolds over three years, providing each trainee with at least one mentor. Some even get specialized mentorship tailored to their unique growth trajectories.
Jeske also shared her personal journey, reflecting on how she’s grown through both the good and the challenging times, highlighting the importance of continuous learning.
Her dedication and impact on the traineeship is unique. The traineeship has been further developed in essential respects, making an even greater impact on the organization. This has raised the traineeship to an even higher level, which is recognized by the entire organization. That makes Jeske deserving of this award.
Trainee Survey Response, Best Traineeship competition 2023
Trends and Insights
The morning also featured a presentation from Kieran, jury member and co-owner of Best Traineeship, who delved into the trends and data driving today’s mentorship programs. She discussed how historical trends shape the future of traineeships and the key role that diverse perspectives play in fueling innovation. Kieran’s analysis showed that mentorship programs aren’t just about developing individual talent—they’re directly linked to the overall performance of organizations. By building strong mentorship structures, companies can foster faster employee development, which in turn drives innovation. We have also worked on the mentorship, and learning and development programs for company performance.
Hackathon: Unpacking Mentorship Challenges
After the morning presentations, it was time for the hackathon—a space designed for attendees to tackle key questions about mentorship. We chose this particular format to put the Young Talent managers into the shoes of the trainee experience, and to find innovative and new solutions, based on the combined experience of the participants and the company’s needs. Tom led the session with a thought-provoking question: “What are the challenges you see with mentorship?”
The conversation quickly took off, touching on themes like the varying levels of mentor commitment and how different personality types influence their approach to mentorship. One of the standout topics was the lack of clear definitions for mentorship and reverse mentorship, which raised the need for better mentor training and active listening skills.
Some key points of discussion included:
- Is in-person mentorship more effective than remote?
- How can companies ensure regular check-ins with mentors?
- How do we make feedback a two-way street, so mentors also provide input on the program?
- What defines a “good mentor,” and how can organizations set clear expectations for the role?
The group also explored what motivates mentors and how they are selected. It was clear that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, as the needs of trainees vary, and the quality of mentorship can make all the difference in a trainee’s experience.
Conclusion
The 2024 Peer Circle Event was a day packed with engaging discussions, knowledge-sharing, and, most importantly, the fostering of new ideas on mentorship. It’s events like these that not only build better traineeship programs but also cultivate the next generation of leaders, mentors, and innovators.
As the day wrapped up, it was clear that the conversations sparked would fuel the development of mentorship programs for years to come. The energy, the insights, and the shared experiences from the event have set the stage for more collaboration and continuous improvement in the world of traineeships.
Thank you to all for an exciting and productive day, and now the countdown begins until next year’s competition!
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be part of another inspiring event. Register here for the upcoming Annual Competition and be ready to exchange more ideas, meet new people, and innovate even further!
Did you know we have released our 2024 State of the Industry Report? Click here to download your copy.
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