At JTM Service, we are always looking for ways to share knowledge and support the development of future talent. As part of this commitment, our Managing Director, Paul Wood, is a mentor on the University of Leeds Nurturing Talent Mentor Scheme (“NTMS”). Through the scheme, Paul has been mentoring Orlando Bailey, a first-year Accounting and Finance student. Alongside their regular mentoring sessions, we were pleased to welcome Orlando to JTM Service HQ last week for a period of work experience.

During his time with us, Orlando worked closely with our Finance Director, Leanne Davies, gaining hands-on exposure to how we produce management accounts, post journals, and deliver monthly reporting. He made a very strong impression across the team, not only in how quickly he grasped new concepts, but also through his friendly personality, positive attitude and professional approach.

He also earned extra credit with the team on his final day, arriving with chocolates as a thank you, which went down very well! It was a thoughtful gesture that summed up his attitude perfectly.

The Value of Mentoring

Mentoring provides students with an opportunity to gain real-world insight, build confidence, and explore potential career paths. It can range from general guidance and support, through to practical help with applications, work experience, and long-term career planning. Reflecting on his experience, Orlando said:

“Mentoring is incredibly valuable for me. It has helped me understand how the skills and knowledge I am gaining at university translate into a real business environment, particularly in areas such as management accounts and reporting. The work experience at JTM Service took this further, giving me the opportunity to work alongside Leanne and contribute to tasks such as posting journals, running reports, and reviewing KPIs and cashflow forecasts. It has also given me insight into wider business areas, including communication, team engagement, and strategic decision-making.”

A Word from Paul

Paul commented:

“This is my first experience mentoring a university student, and I have found it extremely rewarding. I am grateful for the opportunity to support Orlando, whether that is through sharing experience, offering guidance, or providing practical exposure to how our business operates. We meet regularly, and he is consistently engaged, inquisitive, and keen to understand both the technical accounting aspects and the broader commercial side of the business. He has a fantastic attitude, and I look forward to continuing to support his development and seeing how his career progresses.”

Looking Ahead

We are proud to support initiatives like the Nurturing Talent Mentor Scheme and to play a small part in helping the next generation develop their skills and confidence. We look forward to continuing our work with Orlando and wish him every success in his upcoming exams and in his continued studies and future career.