Skip to main content University of Leeds homepage

Mentoring

Katherine James mentors a student

Our students thrive when alumni give them real-life insights into the world of work.

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. You answer questions and give guidance in a relaxed setting.

By sharing knowledge, experience and expertise, you can help your mentee gain a competitive edge in the graduate job market.   

In addition to assisting students, mentoring will help to enhance your own leadership and management abilities.  

There are sever schemes you might get involved in.

I’ve always found mentoring to be a rewarding experience and one that challenges me to stay at the forefront of my field too.

E-mentor Georgina Orso (Environmental Management 2012), Marketing Manager, Guru Systems

Careers eMentoring scheme

  • This online mentoring scheme matches students with alumni and supporter mentors in the industry sector they want to enter after graduating.  
  • Provide students with tailored support and guidance, as well as insight into an industry, roles and career paths within the selected career area.  
  • Help students to build their career confidence, commercial awareness and employability skills to better prepare them for entering the workplace. 

For more information about getting involved, please email the Alumni and Supporter Volunteering team via alumnivolunteers@leeds.ac.uk.

Nurturing talent mentor scheme for Leeds University Business School (LUBS)

  • The LUBS scheme connects students to mentors from a wide range of roles and companies.
  • As a mentor, you are matched with a student to deliver one-to-one in person or online mentoring for an academic year.      

To find out more information, visit the scheme information page. If you are interested in becoming a mentor please contact the Mentoring and Widening Participation Team by emailing mentoring@leeds.ac.uk

30 Minute Mentoring with The Plus Programme

  • The Plus Programme is a support network for students from backgrounds that are under-represented at university.  By volunteering with the Plus Programme, you could make a difference to the lives of students.
  • In this mentoring scheme, Plus Programme students meet with an alum for a 30-minute mentoring session. 
  • As a mentor, you will meet up to five Plus Programme students for a one-to-one session over a day during term time.  
  • Sessions can take place either in person or online. They are a great mentoring opportunity for volunteers who do not have much availability, as each session is just 30 minutes and can be flexible with your schedule.

Find out more about 30 minute mentoring by visiting the Plus Programme volunteering pages.

Bespoke mentoring schemes

There are several other mentoring schemes across the university that might be suited to you.

Michael Beverley Innovation Fellowship

  • The scheme is suitable for leaders in business and entrepreneurs.
  • Funded through a £1 million donation from Michael Beverley, a Leeds alumnus and Yorkshire business leader, the Michael Beverley Innovation Fellowship is designed to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs and support early career researchers (our Fellows) on their innovation and entrepreneurial journey. 
  • Find out more about the Michael Beverley Innovation Fellowship

Alumni Leadership Mentoring Programme

Faculty of Biological Sciences nurturing talent mentoring scheme

  • This scheme links up professionals from bioscience and other industries to act as mentors to students in the Faculty of Biological Sciences.
  • The mentoring scheme has been established to provide students with the opportunity to enhance their employability, expand their professional networks and increase their confidence. 
  • You can find out more by visiting the faculty website.

Institute for Transport Studies mentoring scheme

  • The goal of this mentoring initiative is to pair professionals with backgrounds in the Transport Industry with students, to provide guidance relating to careers in the sector.
  • The mentoring programme seeks to offer students an industry-oriented perspective to complement their academic studies and foster relationships among industry stakeholders both nationally and from around the world.
  • Find out more by visiting the Institute for Transport Studies website.

School of Law career mentoring scheme

  • The scheme pairs second and final year students with mentors from various fields such as law, policing, civil service, banking, and charities.
  • Mentoring sessions can be conducted in-person or remotely via phone or online meeting.
  • Mentors provide advice on career planning, networking opportunities, insights into different roles, and guidance on interviews and selection processes. 
  • To find out more, visit the School of Law website.