Mentoring is a structured, supportive relationship in which one person supports another.  It is used to help in navigating a new role, new responsibility, transition or specific task.  The mentor will draw on their knowledge, experience and perspectives during the conversation.  Unlike coaching, which is entirely non-directive, mentors weave their insights and experience into the conversation. Both mentoring and coaching are grounded in curiosity, deep listening and psychological safety, but each serves a different purpose in the workplace.  

The programme covers several forms of mentoring, including more traditional mentoring where a more experienced person is paired with someone earlier in their career or new to their role; near-peer mentoring where people at a similar level of seniority work together and reverse mentoring where a less experienced colleague (or external client) works with someone more senior (or internal) offering a different perspective. The programme also explores the difference between formal mentoring, which is structured, purposeful and time-bounded, and informal mentoring, tending to be more ad-hoc and relational, woven into everyday working relationships.

Understanding different types and forms of mentoring and their application to workplace situations is part of what makes an effective mentor leader.  This is central to what the programme develops.

This programme is open to employers based in York or North Yorkshire with one or more employee(s). It is well suited to leaders or business owners who want to build in-house mentoring capability, through more experienced or near-peer colleagues.  It is also relevant for leaders  who wish to further develop their skills in listening, grounding, self-awareness, curious questioning or reflection, or wanting to introduce more structured forms of support within their teams.  

The programme will support organisations looking to improve colleagues' health and wellbeing, retention, inclusion and/or supporting the reintegration of those returning to work.

No. The programme is designed for people who are new to mentoring or who have mentored informally and want to do it with more confidence and structure. What matters is that you work with colleagues and have a genuine interest in supporting their development, wellbeing or progression.

Yes. All three sessions are delivered live and online. This means you can participate from wherever you are based, across York and North Yorkshire without the need to travel, while still benefiting from monthly interaction with your trainers and peers.

The programme runs across three months, with three full-day taught sessions, running from 9:30am to 4:30pm.

Between sessions, you will be required to complete two hours of self-study tasks and independent mentoring practice.  Once the taught sessions have finished you will have up to 4 weeks to complete your assessed work.  The programme is designed to be manageable alongside a full-time leadership role. 

Each cohort has 8 places.  The programme is kept deliberately small to ensure a high-quality, interactive learning experience and safe space to practice, reflect and learn from one another.

Yes. To complete the programme, you will submit two pieces of work after the final module.  These include:

• The first is a Learning Log recording a minimum of three hours of mentoring practice, alongside your self-study activities completed throughout the programme.
• The second is a written critical reflection of your mentoring practice (500-750 words), considering what went well, didn't go so well and what you plan to do differently. 

You will receive feedback on your assessed work from a tutor on the programme.  Throughout the programme you will be supported by your tutors and peers in tutorials and group practice sessions.

You will have access to a nominated tutor for feedback and guidance, integrated peer practice within sessions, structured self-study materials between sessions, and access to our virtual learning environment. You will also be invited to join a programme community site and our wider Conversations for Change community as well as join monthly Practice Cafés and Lunch and Learn events.

At the end of the programme, you will receive a certificate of completion.  You will be trained to hold structured, ethical mentoring conversations with confidence. This will help you to recognise early signs of disengagement and respond constructively, support colleagues through transitions, health challenges or a return to work, and contribute to a workplace culture where people feel genuinely heard, valued and supported to stay and progress.

We will shortly be launching an Advanced Skills in Effective Mentoring programme for those who complete the Foundations of Effective Mentoring and want to deepen their practice.  This will not be funded as part of the Conversations4Change programme.  It will help you build on the foundations, developing greater confidence and capability to work with more complex or nuanced workplace situations.