Here goes my first adventure into blogging, and as the training director for Uncommon Knowledge I did have a wee laugh to myself as I caught myself procrasinating about actually getting on and starting!! I had reached that point where creative thought turns into mindless chatter about making it perfect and that had stopped me begining to blog. Hey thankfully I nipped that in the bud and here I am.

I have worked with Roger and Mark for seven years now and much of my work over the past three years has been to focus on how our students can absorb their new skills in a fun, creative and easy way; in the process I have seen the best ways this can be achieved. Over the next few months I will let you know some of the gems that have helped us achieve this.

One of the most noticable diamonds are our team of mentors; who mentor about five students each through the course and for three months after they qualify. Watching them with the students last weekend you would have thought that they had known them for ages as they guided the students through the exercises and nattered to them in the breaks.

I suppose it is a little bit like the old apprentice scheme whose dimise we witnessed through the Thatchers years; I thoroughly lament its passing as so much confidence to do new things and embed learning is achieved by working with someone who is more experienced and highly skilled than you. Those young men and women who worked as apprentices in various trades would always had someone on hand to chat to for advice or reassurance.

There is a quote that goes something like ….much talent has gone to the graves of men for the want of a little courage…………..And friendly encouragement is just one thing that a good mentor can provide. As well as being a sounding board for your ideas, someone to go over the techniques after the weekends all in a friendly and relaxed manner, an old idea that enriches the learning experience of all the students.

Jill