The University of Westminster’s Future Ready Mentoring programmes give you the opportunity to connect with an experienced professional to help you develop your skills, build your network and gain an insight into the world of work. We help to create connections between our alumni community and beyond, to current students and recent graduates at Westminster.
Planning a career can seem confusing and overwhelming, that’s why we’ve teamed up with professionals across various industries to help you to succeed. If you’re looking for a role model to inspire and support you during your studies or after you graduate, then make the most of this career support and apply for a mentor through Future Ready Mentoring now.
What is mentoring
Mentoring is a supportive learning relationship between a caring individual who shares knowledge, experience and wisdom with another individual who is ready and willing to benefit from this exchange, to enrich their professional journey.
– Suzanne Faure (2000) as cited in Mentoring: A Practitioners Guide to Touching Lives by Sunil Unny Guptan, 2006, p.71)
As a facilitator of personal and professional growth, our mentors can help you to succeed by enhancing your employability through confidence building, networking and developing key employability skills.
By sharing knowledge and insights gained through the years, you will be given the chance to learn about opportunities available in specific areas. With the help of a mentor as a role model, you can build a solid foundation of skills to launch a variety of successful careers.
Benefits of having a mentor
By being matched with a mentor on our programmes, you will be given the opportunity to gain a positive role model who will help and guide you to reach your potential. By participating in mentoring, you will benefit from:
- Acquiring an understanding of the professional world
- Gaining insight into chosen career areas
- Increasing your professional network
- Developing your employability skills
- Building your interpersonal skills and self-confidence
- Gaining invaluable knowledge, information and advice
- Enhancing your career development
Earn Westminster Employability Award points
By taking part in one or more of our Future Ready Mentoring Programmes, you can benefit from earning points towards your Westminster Employability Award.
The Westminster Employability Award is an employability achievement award supporting your career and personal development by formally recognising the extra-curricular activities you complete during your time at the University of Westminster.
It is designed to help you gain experience and develop key skills that employers want you to have. Find out more on the Westminster Employability Award page.
Included in your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)
You will also benefit from the Mentoring Scheme being included in your HEAR if you complete all the requirements of the scheme.
The HEAR is your online record of all your achievements at the University, helping you demonstrate your potential to future employers.
The record includes your course marks as well as any extracurricular achievements. Find out more on the HEAR page.
Future Ready Mentoring Pathways
We offer three branches of mentoring activity that have been specifically designed to fit around your studies to help you plan for your future career. Outlined in further detail below, these include long-term, short-term, and group mentoring opportunities.
- Career Mentoring Programme (Long-term Mentoring)
Our long-term mentoring programme consists of an experienced professional being matched with a student or recent graduate for a six or three-month mentoring relationship. All our mentors are experienced professionals from a variety of roles and industries including the BBC, the United Nations, EY, the NHS and Google. - Ask a Mentor Service (Short-term Mentoring)
An alternative opportunity for those who are looking for short-term mentoring opportunities. You can have one-off conversations with a mentor to ask for advice, get career support or to ask those important work/industry-related questions. This pathway offers greater flexibility for both mentors and mentees, it can be done over the phone, or online. - Group Mentoring
Group mentoring is a new venture for Future Ready Mentoring at the University of Westminster, which has been introduced to support many more students with building their skillset and tackling the working world with confidence. Industry specific group mentoring sessions are organised on an ad hoc basis, where there is a high level of interest from students.
Course-embedded group mentoring is currently being piloted in select degree programmes. This involves a series of in-person group mentoring sessions which take place during timetabled seminar teaching.
How to apply
Find out more about how you can apply on the Career Mentoring Programme and Ask a Mentor Service pages.
Contact us
If you have any questions about Future Ready Mentoring, contact us using the details below. If you are interested in becoming a mentor for one of our students, please head over to our Future Ready Mentoring page where you’ll find all the relevant information.
General enquiries
- Career Mentoring Programme – [email protected]
- Ask A Mentor Service – [email protected]
What mentees say
Cordula Kastner
Student, MA Museums, Galleries & Contemporary Culture
"My mentor Elen Salina showed in every session great commitment as my mentor. I am very grateful for her precious time and all the insights into the London and British Art Market she has provided me in our five mentoring sessions.
With her know-how, her skills, and business experiences, she answered me all my questions and filled gaps about the professional art market comprehensively.
It was the perfect extension to my University of Westminster education. She helped me incredibly in developing employability skills and gaining self-confidence through our sessions. I admired her contagious passion for and our refreshing conversations about the international art market and her empowering personality."
Anisia Nedeloiu
Second year student, BA Fashion Business Management
"This mentorship has helped me to keep track of the goals that I have set for myself whilst evolving as an individual.
Being a first-year student and navigating through University life felt confusing and lonely because I didn't know that there could be someone that can help me to put into order my thoughts, dreams, and wishes for my professional life.
Starting my second year, I will recommend this mentoring scheme to my classmates because everyone needs a bit of guidance and support to develop and become their best selves."
Owain Llyr Williams
Student, MA Translation and Interpreting MA
"My mentor gave me excellent advice on the next steps in my career, where I need to improve my skills, where to network and which internships may be beneficial."
Esmeralda Blackson
Second year student, BA International Marketing
"My mentoring experience was everything and more. It gave me direction and confidence to keep going and to think out of the box and truly progress."
Awards and achievements
Our Future Ready Mentoring programmes have been recognised within the University of Westminster and beyond for their innovation and excellence. We strive to provide you with the best possible mentoring experience, running supportive and inspiring programmes that will build your self-confidence and employability skills before you enter the world or work.
Some of our recent achievements include:
2022 Times Higher Education (THE) Awards
Future Ready Mentoring was shortlisted for the prestigious 2022 Times Higher Education (THE) Awards in the ‘Outstanding Support for Students’ category.
CASE Gold Award
The Future Ready Mentoring programmes won the CASE Gold Award celebrating our outstanding work in alumni relations.
Collaborative Teaching Award
Our Group Mentoring pilot for computer science students won the Collaborative Teaching Award as part of the Learning and Teaching Excellence Awards in the University of Westminster Centre for Education and Teaching Innovation.
Apply now
Boost your employability with mentoring and apply for our Career Mentoring Programme or Ask a Mentor Service.