This course explores mentoring within an institutional context, focusing on how to build meaningful and effective mentoring relationships. It emphasises inclusive best practices and provides practical strategies to ensure mentoring is accessible and supportive for all. Participants will gain well-researched tools and techniques designed to foster equity, respect, and mutual growth in mentoring partnerships.
Becoming a mentor workshop provided an excellent learning platform to develop our knowledge and skills regarding the important role of a mentor. A quote that our facilitator used in the workshop really stood out for me: ‘Mentoring is a conversation with a purpose.’ I would highly recommend this workshop.”
Elaine Jones, Senior Lecturer, Swansea University
Key dates
Cohort 3
Session 1 – 18 September 2026 – 09:30-13:00 BST
Session 2 – 02 October 2026 – 09:30-13:00 BST
We are pleased to offer an early booking discount on bookings made before 31 August 2026:
Member ticket: £175
Non-member ticket: £235
Cohort 4
Session 1 – 23 February 2027 – 09:30-13:00 GMT
Session 2 – 09 March 2027 09:30-13:00 GMT
We are pleased to offer an early booking discount on bookings made before 30 September 2026:
Member ticket: £175
Non-member ticket: £235
Benefits for Mentors and Mentees
Mentors develop leadership, communication, and coaching skills while gaining fresh perspectives and contributing to an inclusive culture.
Mentees receive guidance, support, and opportunities for personal and professional growth, helping them navigate challenges and achieve their goals.
Impact on Organisational Culture:
By embedding inclusive mentoring practices, organisations strengthen collaboration, enhance employee engagement, and create a culture where diverse voices are valued and supported. This leads to greater innovation, retention, and overall organisational success.
Mentoring is a valuable development approach that supports individuals at all stages of their careers. It can accelerate integration through induction mentoring, assist with navigating organisational change, develop skills, and enhance career progression. Mentoring also contributes to strategic objectives such as fostering diversity, promoting well-being, and improving retention. Research shows that both mentors and mentees benefit from the experience, with mentoring skills enhancing wider working practices.
This workshop introduces mentoring within an institutional context and explores how to make mentoring effective for everyone. It covers best practice guidelines and offers practical advice, along with well-validated tools and techniques that participants can adapt to suit different needs and contexts.
The Becoming a Mentor workshop was thought-provoking, I found it both insightful, genuinely enjoyable and well designed. I’ve come away with practical approaches I can apply but I particularly appreciated the overall ethos of the course, which was captured perfectly by our facilitator: “mentoring helps others make sense of their experience.” I would highly recommend this workshop.”
Helen Hayes, Resource Librarian, Glasgow Caledonian University
Inclusive Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Establish and maintain mentoring relationshipsthat reflect best practice, ethical guidelines, and respect for diversity and inclusion.
- Recognise and value the role of the mentor, including personal qualities and behaviours that foster equitable and successful mentoring partnerships.
- Select and apply a range of tools and techniquesthat are accessible and adaptable to meet the varied needs of mentees.
- Demonstrate key skills and competenciesrequired for mentoring within an institutional context, ensuring inclusivity and cultural sensitivity.
- Support the development of mentees and colleaguesby creating an environment that encourages growth, belonging, and equal opportunity.
Mentors will:
- Be recognised for their professional experience and achievements
- Possess knowledge of their organization and an understanding of its culture
- Have sufficient time available to support the mentee effectively
- Bring relevant experience in higher education to offer informed advice and guidance
- Be active listeners who provide objective, constructive feedback
- Demonstrate a genuine interest in supporting the career development of all mentees
- Use a supportive and coaching-oriented communication style
- Maintain a positive outlook, appreciating the mentee’s perspective and exploring solutions collaboratively
- Be flexible, open-minded, and respectful of diverse backgrounds and experiences
How is the course delivered?
This course will be delivered online as two half days to allow some practice between the two sessions. Delegates will need access to a private space, audio and camera functions plus access to Zoom.
The course will be highly practical and interactive with participants encouraged to test the ideas in a safe and confidential environment. The focus will be on how to apply the approach in their specific context and will identify further personal development opportunities
Benefits of Being a Mentor
Mentoring is a two-way learning experience, and while it supports the growth of your mentee, it also offers significant benefits for you as a mentor. These benefits can vary depending on your relationship with your mentee, but common advantages include:
- Enhancing Your Mentoring Skills: Develop and refine your ability to guide, support, and challenge others effectively.
- Gaining Insight into Other Areas: Learn about different departments, teams, or roles within the organisation, broadening your perspective.
- Expanding Your Professional Network: Build connections with colleagues and professionals across the organisation.
- Understanding Development Through Mentoring: Deepen your knowledge of how mentoring contributes to personal and professional growth.
- Encouraging Self-Reflection: Reflect on your own experiences, leadership style, and career journey.
- Developing Skills and Knowledge: Strengthen communication, coaching, and leadership capabilities.
- Experiencing a Sense of Achievement: Gain satisfaction from helping your mentee achieve their goals and overcome challenges.
- Leadership Development: Enhance your ability to inspire, influence, and support others—key qualities for effective leadership.
Baljit Birring
Senior Consultant, Inclusive Leadership
Baljit Birring is a dynamic and values-driven Senior Consultant for Inclusive Leadership at Advance HE, where she leads flagship programmes including She Leads, the Diversifying Leadership Programme, and the Inclusive Leadership Programme. A creative strategist, experienced leader, and executive coach, she is committed to transforming leadership cultures and embedding equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) into the heart of organisations.
Other points to note about mentoring:
- In general, line managers should not mentor their own staff but should be supportive of the process
- Mentoring relationships work best when the ‘contract’ between mentor and mentee is personally agreed in order to meet the needs of both individuals
- Mentors should be honest and non-judgemental
- A mentoring toolkit has been provided for mentors, which can be used or supplement institutional guidance
If you would like to set up a mentoring scheme in your institution and are not sure how to do this, we can help. We can provide you with some guidance or case studies or direct you to another champion for advice. There is a wealth of information and guidance on mentoring on the internet. Included is a useful open source link providing a range of advice and resources around mentoring www.coachingnetwork.org.uk.
Mentoring is now a vital development tool in many organisations and can be used to speed up integration through induction mentoring, to develop skills and support career progress as well as to address strategic objectives such as diversity, well-being or retention.
Evidence suggests that both mentor and mentee gain from the experience so the skills of mentoring appear to enhance wider working practices. This course gives an introduction to mentoring in an institutional context and will identify how to make mentoring effective. It will cover best practice guidelines to follow and give delegates practical advice in addition to well validated tools and techniques to use.
Would you like an in-house version of this programme?
If you have a number of colleagues from within your organisation who would benefit from becoming a mentor it can be delivered in-house for specific faculties, departments or teams. This will allow for some tailoring to meet the needs of your organisation. Find out more about bespoke programmes and training.
