Australia-based AD1 Holdings (AD1:AU), previously known as ApplyDirect, today announced that it has signed a contract with HR.com for a mentoring programme delivered by its subsidiary Art of Mentoring for members.

Based in Canada, HR.com has 1.9 million HR professional members worldwide, mostly based in the US. Membership provides access to educational tools and resources that HR professionals need to stay ahead and compliant in the ever-changing HR landscape, according to the group.

In addition, HR.com specialises in connecting HR professionals through dozens of annual virtual conferences, consisting of hundreds of webcasts.

According to AD1, the virtual mentoring programme through Art of Mentoring will provide their members with an opportunity for ‘deeper levels of human connection and professional development.’

The mentoring program will match over 1,000 HR practitioners in the first year and will scale.

The contract is valued at in excess of AUD 100,000 (USD 72,471) in the first twelve months. Art of Mentoring will manage the program on behalf of HR.com.

The Art of Mentoring, a SaaS (software-as-a-service) business, was acquired by AD1 Holdings on September 2020.

AD1 CEO, Brendan Kavenagh, said, “This is an exciting development for Art of Mentoring, not just because of the contract value. It gives AoM direct contact with the HR professionals participating in the program, who are themselves potential customers for the AoM SaaS platform and related services. In addition to the program, AoM will contribute to HR.com’s educational calendar, delivering mentoring expertise via virtual events, webcasts and joint research projects, marketed to the entire membership base.”

“Partnership arrangements with HR membership organisations such as these in Australia have contributed significantly to AoM’s stellar growth. HR.com has nearly 100 times the membership of similar local organisations,” Kavenagh added.

“This new HR.com development will open a significant opportunity for accelerated offshore expansion and allow the Art of Mentoring brand to compete more aggressively on the world stage,” Kavenagh said. “We look forward to working with HR.com to deliver our mentoring programs for their members in the US, Canada and beyond, in line with the success we have demonstrated in the Australian marketplace. The opportunity to grow our footprint outside of Australia has begun.”