Become a mentor

Share your expertise with final-year undergraduate students by becoming an industry mentor.

About the scheme

The scheme focuses on developing a strong mentoring relationship between students and industry professionals and encourages students to critically reflect upon their professional development throughout their studies.

Students work with you through issues around leadership and extending professional networks. Our mentoring students are studying a range of courses including, international events, international tourism and international hospitality.

Benefits to you

  • Your mentee will research an industry-relevant issue you are facing
  • They will create a final report for you and a summarised version, which will include commercial and business recommendations
  • Your mentee will present their findings to you and your team (on arrangement).

Your role

  • To work with a mentee to agree on, advise and guide them through a credible industry-based project and beyond
  • To expose your mentee to your business and help their professional skills development
  • To help your mentee understand leadership in practice
  • To extend your mentee's external support network
  • To direct your student in examples of good practice 
  • To meet your student either in-person or by Skype (a minimum of three two-hour meetings)
  • To give feedback to your mentee through your time with them, including their final report.

Required skills

  • Five years experience post-graduation
  • Ideally working in the fields of tourism, hospitality, events or related fields
  • Ideally in a senior role or are aspiring to develop your own leadership skills
  • Able to make this time commitment between February and May
  • Capacity to encourage, motivate and inspire your mentee
  • Willingness to learn from your mentee
  • Have (or willing to disclose) appropriate company information to aid their assignment research (a non-disclosure can be signed by the student)
  • Overseas applications are welcomed.

Previous mentors

We have attracted exceptional mentors from across the hospitality, tourism and events industries:

  • BaxterStorey (Operations Manager)
  • Carlson Rezidor (Vice President, Global Group Sales)
  • Four Seasons Hampshire (General Manager)
  • Gather & Gather (Head of Operations for Sky)
  • Giraffe (Director)
  • Harp Wallen (Account Manager)
  • Lexington Catering (Head of Sales)
  • London Hilton Metropole (PR and Marketing Manager)
  • Marylebone Cricket Club/Lords Cricket Ground (Head of Catering)
  • MDQ Tickets (Business Development Director)
  • Mustard Catering (Managing Director)
  • Rapport (MD)
  • Rhubarb (Director of Events)
  • Shangri La Hotels and Resorts (General Manager)
  • Singapore Airlines Holidays (General Manager)
  • Sustainable Travel International (Director of Marketing and Communications)
  • The Four Seasons at Park Lane (Hotel Manager)
  • Thomas Cook Group (Project Manager)
  • TUI Group (Director of Sustainable Development)
  • Yo Sushi! (Operations Director).

Apply

For more information about becoming a mentor, please email us at shtm@surrey.ac.uk.