/Mentorships
Welcome to your one-stop shop for all things mentoring! Here you will find industry-specific mentoring opportunities from external service providers and suppliers from across the Advertising, Marketing and Media Industries. There are a range of opportunities below to suit everyone’s needs and desires in a variety of formats, from speed monitoring and workshops to networking opportunities. So take a look below to find your perfect fit!
Don’t forget, if there is someone here at neverland who inspires you and you would like to shadow them more closely, or even be mentored by them please speak to Ashleigh to express your mentorship wishes.
/ Free Opportunities
Gender Specific
A Band of Berothers
Grow Your Career with the award-winning Charity helping young men develop and grow with real support making real change
The Band of Brothers (ABOB) mentoring programme offers life-changing support to young men aged around 18–25 who may be facing serious challenges, including involvement with the justice system or time spent in care. The goal? To help them build confidence, find direction, and move toward a more positive future.
The programme kicks off with a 10-week mentoring journey, including one-to-one support and a powerful Rites of Passage weekend experience. This is followed by three months of continued mentoring and regular group meetups. The programme runs twice a year — in spring and autumn.
Young men who complete the programme are welcomed into the ABOB community for the long term. They gain continued access to weekly support groups, training opportunities, and can even return as mentors themselves, creating a cycle of support and leadership.
ABOB mentors come from all walks of life — from tradespeople to CEOs. What they share is a genuine commitment to supporting others. Each mentor receives specialist training and dedicates a few hours a week to helping their mentee grow and thrive. So if you don’t think it’s the right men torship programme for you but want to give back why not get involved?
The programme welcomes new volunteer mentors throughout the year. It’s a rewarding way to give back, build strong connections, and help shape better futures.
Bloom Mentoring
Grow Your Career with the Bloom Mentoring Programme
Looking to level up your career in marketing and communications? Bloom’s free mentoring programme is designed to help women with 2–6 years (up to 7) of experience find their feet, build confidence, and chase their career goals — all with the guidance of inspiring, experienced women in the industry.
But don’t wait too long — there’s just one intake per year, and spots fill up fast!
As a mentee, you’ll join a brilliant, supportive community and get access to:
/ Exclusive skill-sharing sessions
/ A private Mighty Networks hub
/ Fun and valuable networking opportunities, including in-person meetups
While the programme is free, mentees are expected to stay engaged — that means committing to a one-hour catch-up with your mentor each month and taking the lead on regular communication.
Bloom is all about driving positive change. From producing insightful research like The Juggle on work/life balance, to creating tools like the Allyship Code for those wanting to support women more effectively, they’re setting the standard for an inclusive industry.
They also launched The Exchange — a cross-mentoring initiative connecting Bloom members with senior men in the industry for honest, insightful conversations across genders.
Other standout initiatives include:
/ The Booth of Truth – an anonymous platform sharing real stories from women facing barriers at work
/ Bloom in Colour – a safe, supportive space to talk about diversity and lived experiences within the industry
Whether you're after mentorship, community, or inspiration, Bloom has your back.
She Says
London was the birthplace of SheSays, launching in 2007 — and it’s still the beating heart of the movement, with a thriving community of over 7,000 members!
The London chapter hosts regular events, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities, all while championing causes like equal parental leave in the creative industries.
Their signature mentoring programme, cleverly named Who's Your Momma?, is designed for women with 2+ years of experience in UK advertising or design. It’s all about connecting emerging talent with experienced industry pros who can help them take their careers to the next level.
Lollipop mentoring
Championing Black Women in Marketing & Advertising
Looking for a mentoring programme that truly moves the dial on representation and inclusion? Meet Lollipop — a UK-based initiative created specifically to support Black women working in marketing, advertising, and communications.
Launched in 2020, Lollipop was founded to tackle the real challenges that Black women face in progressing their careers — like hitting a ceiling despite years of experience, or lacking access to relatable, senior role models. It’s built on the belief that with the right mentor, safe spaces, and a strong network, real career change is possible. Tailored for Black women aged 25+ with at least 2 years of industry experience, you can expect, one-on-one mentoring with industry professionals, relaxed, supportive spaces to share challenges and solutions, real talk, real connections — and a lot of encouragement along the way
Since launch, Lollipop has grown from just a handful of mentor-mentee matches to a thriving community of 300+ pairs across the UK. It’s already helped dozens of women step into leadership roles, build confidence, and expand their professional networks.
And it’s not stopping there — Lollipop has recently broadened its mission to include young, diverse talent from all backgrounds, while continuing to centre Black women’s experiences at the heart of its work.
Ethnic Minority Talent
Media For All (MEFA)
MEFA champion Black, Asian, mixed-race an d ethnic minority professionals in the UK Marketing and advertising industries. Their mission is simple yet powerful: Recruit. Retain. Rise.
Over the past few years, MEFA has built a strong, supportive community at all levels—offering events, forums, and mentoring opportunities focused on career progression and inclusivity.
Due to high demand, mentoring and role model programmes often fill up quickly, but they remain a vital part of MEFA’s drive to increase ethnic diversity across the industry.
BYP Mentoring
BYP Mentoring is tailored for Black young professionals across all industries, with strong connections to leading creative companies like TikTok. It’s a popular programme, so expect a bit of a wait to get matched with your mentor.
Once paired, mentees commit to dedicating at least one hour per month for six months to their mentoring sessions—though extra catch-ups can always be arranged if both mentor and mentee want to connect more often. It’s a fantastic opportunity to gain insights, build your network, and grow your career with guidance from experienced professionals who get it!
LGBTQIA+ Talent
The Outvertising Mentor Programme
Outvertising is on a mission to make the UK marketing and advertising world fully LGBTQ+ inclusive. Their mentoring programme supports LGBTQ+ talent who are either new to the industry or eager to break in, helping them thrive in a space where senior LGBTQ+ representation is still rare. By building a strong network of support, Outvertising believes a fresh wave of diverse, creative talent will bring incredible value to the industry.
Mentors in the programme are passionate volunteers—senior industry leaders who bring tons of experience and insight. They’re either part of the LGBTQ+ community or proud allies, all trained to make sure mentees get the best guidance possible.
Over six months, mentees can expect 6 to 12 mentoring sessions, along with additional check-ins and events hosted by Outvertising. There’s also a rich calendar of free training and events, such as Role Model Training, plus handy guides to help mentees make the most of their journey.
MyGWork
MyGWork is a leading global networking and job platform that connects LGBTQIA+ professionals with inclusive employers who truly value diversity. Their passion? Creating a safe, supportive space where LGBTQIA+ individuals can thrive in their careers, build connections with like-minded communities, and discover meaningful job opportunities that align with their values.
As a global organisation, MyGWork offers a fantastic lineup of free workshops, talks, and panel events. Plus, the founder encourages reaching out directly to request mentors—making it easier than ever to find guidance and support on your professional journey.
Under 25 Talent
Creative Mentor Network
Creative Mentor Network is on a mission to break the class ceiling in the UK’s creative industries.
They champion socioeconomic diversity by supporting talented young people aged 16–25 from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. At the same time, they train professionals already working in the industry to become inclusive leaders—equipping them with the tools to build more accessible, welcoming spaces where everyone has a chance to thrive.
WYK Digital Mentoring Programme
WYK Digital break the class ceiling id on a mission to open doors into the digital world for young people from underrepresented backgrounds- no insider connections required. Their mentoring programme is a key part of this mission, giving participants the skills, confidence, and industry insight they need to break into careers in digital marketing, data, and beyond.
Each participant is paired with a dedicated mentor—someone who’s already working in the field and ready to offer personalised guidance. Over the course of around 10 hours, mentors help mentees sharpen their professional skills, navigate the industry, and feel more prepared for what comes next.
The programme runs alongside practical, hands-on training where mentees work on real projects with real clients. It’s this powerful mix of learning and support that helps the majority of WYK Digital graduates move into jobs, further training, or freelance opportunities within just a few months.
WYK Digital is all about turning potential into possibility—and their mentoring programme is where that transformation begins.
D&AD Shift: Night School for Self‑Taught Creatives
D&AD Shift is a groundbreaking, free “night school” designed for creative individuals who haven’t followed a traditional university path. Since its launch in 2016, this industry-led initiative has offered an empowering route into advertising, design, and production for self-taught creatives—those with serious talent but no degree. It’s all about levelling the playing field and discovering fresh voices.
Spread across cities like London, New York, Sydney, Berlin, Hamburg, and São Paulo, Shift equips participants with real-world skills, live briefs, portfolio-building training, peer support, and industry mentorship—typically encompassing around 120 hours over five months. Since inception, an impressive around 72% of Shifters have landed roles in creative industries, including high-profile work for brands such as Apple, Spotify, Disney—and even projects directing Stormzy, animating for Katy Perry, or shooting for Vogue.
Shift doesn't stop there. Graduates have the opportunity to continue their journey through Shift Select—an extra month of hands-on, workplace-style training—and Shift Studio, a global creative collective where alumni collaborate on live briefs with agencies and brands, while enriching their own portfolios and industry networks.
For many, D&AD Shift is the creative “shortcut” to a career—fueled by bold ideas, trained in real-world conditions, and backed by a vibrant alumni community.
Disabled and Neurodivergent Talent
Media Trust
The Media Trust and Leo Burnett UK are proud to run a mentoring programme that taps into the wisdom and experience of senior industry pros to support disabled talent in advertising. Each mentee is paired with a mentor for a one-on-one journey that spans six months, all held virtually for maximum accessibility and flexibility.
But it’s more than just one-on-one chats—each month, mentees and mentors come together for lively mentoring circles featuring webinars, panel discussions, and skill-building workshops. It’s a two-way learning experience, offering personal and professional growth for everyone involved.