Employer Mentoring Programme
What is the UHI Employer Mentoring Programme?
The programme is run by the UHI Futures career support team, who review students' applications and carefully match them to a professional working in a relevant field. The programme runs over 6 months (November to May) with mentoring taking place via e-mail, phone, or video call - whichever suits you and your mentor. This is an easily accessible yet hugely beneficial learning, development, and networking opportunity.
Discussions with your mentor are to be held at least once a month for the duration. It is expected that communication will be more frequent than this however, and we encourage ongoing discussion to ensure you get the most out of the experience.
You’ll be able to liaise with your mentor on a number of topics and discuss a range of opportunities. Participating in this exciting programme will boost your CV and confidence, and result in a broad range of positive benefits for you now and into the future!
Students who have taken part in the programme will also be invited to attend an online concluding ceremony in May. This session will involve some short, valuable exercises, and some helpful presentations from the UHI Futures team and from some of the organisations supporting the programme.
Who can apply?
The Employer Mentoring Programme is open to any students from any UHI campus and programme who are currently in their 3rd or 4th year of study.
Who will mentor me?
When you apply, you will be asked to tell us a bit more about your topics of interest, and the type of sector or specialism you’d like your mentor to have experience in.
All of our confirmed mentors are passionate about providing you with the opportunity to discuss career aspirations, employability prospects and opportunities, and developments or trends in your selected area of interest. You may even want to identify any work experience or job opportunities they may be able to help you with, or discuss their career path and experiences, and how they got to where they are today. Discussions can also delve into the pace of change in business today, digital advancements, changes in the workforce and customers, and business development.
Application process
When can I apply?
The 2024-25 programme is now closed for applications.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with the UHI Futures career support team: futures@uhi.ac.uk
What happens after I apply?
Applications will be reviewed, and you will be matched to a mentor depending on your interests and subject area, and depending on the availability of mentors. You will have to sign a Mentee Confidentiality Doc.
You will then be provided with your mentor’s contact details so that you can get in touch with them to set up your first meeting/discussion. At that point, you should share your objectives with them. They will be able to help gauge whether your objectives can be reasonably achieved during the programme.
You will then embark on a programme of relationship/knowledge building with your mentor!
Links and Information
Hear from some of our participants
Hear more from participants about their experience as a mentee or mentor on the UHI Employer Mentoring Programme.
Jodie Stevenson - Mentor Testimonial
Jodie Stevenson - Mentor Testimonial
The programme is a lovely way for students to not only network, but to build relationships within the industry that they desire to build a career in. It is a great way for guidance and contacts to be shared from those already working within that industry, down to those that wish to be there or potentially just learn more about. Not only was it great for myself and the student, but also for all my colleagues that got involved along the way. This level of advice and coaching would be difficult for students to obtain, to the same degree outside of the programme. As a mentor, it was very rewarding to watch the enthusiasm at the start of the programme, turn into growth, confidence and knowledge within the individual, that I know will be transferable skills as they continue on from being a student and into their chosen career. I really appreciated that UHI paired the students with mentors within the industry of their desired career. As a professional, it was very encouraging to work with an individual that was excited about entering our profession and the opportunity that I had to help shape and guide them on this route.
Lauren Keenan - Student Testimonial
Emilie Massard – Student Testimonial
Grant Anderson – Student Testimonial
Dener Pereira – Student Testimonial
Lyn Goodenough - Student Testimonial
Lyn Goodenough - Student Testimonial
The mentoring programme has been transformational for me. My mentor has been fantastic, and she motivated me to start my own business and I am now set up and the business in growing steadily. Doing this has also given me confidence and helped to secure a position as a Complementary Therapist in the hospice. In addition, I entered a business enterprise competition through UHI and won a prize recently which is great.
Denisa Hurmuzachi - Student Testimonial
Denisa Hurmuzachi - Student Testimonial
I am studying BEngH Aircraft Engineering, I am in year 3. I am so grateful that I entered in this programme because my mentor presented me an inside view of the industry and the skills that I will need to achieve. I was concerned about my career and qualifications, and also about my plan of doing something else. I was worried that I will not have the right qualifications and I will not be able to get a job. My mentor explained to me everything from how to write my CV, to what an employer is expecting from a candidate when applying for a job. When it came to change my career path he did not hesitate, and he provided the best support and the right people to help me with all my questions. Overall, I really recommend this programme because it gave me a different perspective on what to do when it comes to apply and find a job.
