Nurturing Talent Mentor Scheme

Our Nurturing Talent Mentor Scheme connects you with industry professionals, in a wide range of roles and companies. You are matched with a professional and receive one-to-one mentoring for an academic year.    

Through the mentoring relationship, you get a chance to enhance your employability skills and start to build your professional networks, as mentors pass on their knowledge, expertise and experience to support your career paths. You’ll immerse yourself in a culture of new ideas and different perspectives to help you develop as a dynamic thinker. 

The aim is to enhance your employability by helping you secure internships, placements and graduate opportunities, increase your confidence and develop key skills that will provide you with a competitive edge in the graduate market. 

You’ll be fully supported by our Mentoring and Widening Participation Team throughout. Applying is a competitive process and capacity is limited. 

What a student had to say:

Having a professional mentor for the past four years has been invaluable. Mentoring easily takes the first spot on the list of the most rewarding, fulfilling and formative activities I’ve ever been involved with. If someone asks what’s the best thing I got out of my degree and time here at Leeds University Business School this is the one, building the strongest foundation and bedrock of my career.

How will you benefit from having a mentor?

• Gain practical advice, encouragement and support  
• Learn from the experiences of others  
• Increase your social and academic confidence  
• Become more empowered to make decisions  
• Develop communication, study and personal skills  
• Experience a workplace environment  
• Access shadowing and work experience opportunities  
• Identify goals and establish a sense of direction  
• Gain valuable insight into the next stage of your career  
• Network with your mentor’s colleagues  

For further information, please contact the Careers Mentoring and Widening Participation team. 

Are you interested in becoming a mentor?

Mentoring is a powerful tool – as a mentor you support a student to manage their own learning and development. You help set personal goals and work together towards achieving positive change. By sharing your knowledge, experience and expertise, you can help your mentee develop a competitive edge in the graduate job market. 

For the past year, I've been a mentor on the Nurturing Talent Mentor Scheme. It has been an amazing experience supporting a student and watching them blossom. Our bond has been truly special, as I've seen my mentee gain confidence and essential skills for his education and future career in business.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor please contact the Mentoring and Widening Participation Team via email: mentoring@leeds.ac.uk