Mentoring has become an important part of my career over the past few years. For me, it’s about supporting individuals to grow and reach their potential in a way that works for them. By offering personalised advice and guidance, mentoring can help create different pathways into the construction industry and support people as they progress through it.

In turn, this can play an important role in improving diversity and retaining individuals who bring new perspectives and skills to our industry.

My own mentoring journey began in 2017 when I joined the STEER mentoring programme, supporting final-year undergraduate students as they transition into industry. Since then, I’ve worked with a wide range of students, including those retraining later in life and taking the step into a completely new career. Seeing that growth in confidence — and watching people find the path that’s right for them — is incredibly rewarding.

While mentoring is often seen as something that benefits the mentee, I’ve gained just as much from the experience. Each relationship brings a fresh perspective, and I’ve found that supporting others has also helped me grow in confidence. Mentors can sometimes question the value they bring, but in my experience, having someone to listen, offer guidance, and share experience can make a real difference.

More recently, I’ve been mentoring younger students through the Future Makers scheme, which aims to showcase the range of roles within the construction sector. Originally focused on supporting young women, the programme responds directly to industry skills shortages by challenging perceptions and broadening understanding of what a career in construction can be. Now open to all genders, it continues to highlight the importance of visible role models and representation.

Alongside this, I’m proud to be involved with Women in Property Yorkshire and the North East, where I currently share the role of Regional Mentoring Ambassador. It’s an incredibly supportive and inclusive network, and the mentoring programme brings together people from different disciplines and career stages. Whether supporting someone just starting out, or helping more established professionals think about their next step, mentoring provides space for honest conversation, reflection, and direction.

At Whittam Cox, we place real importance on supporting people through their careers. This means taking a personal approach — understanding individual goals, and providing the right support and opportunities to help people progress. We are now exploring how mentoring can be expanded further across the practice, including introducing reverse mentoring within our leadership team. It’s something I’m excited to be part of, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it continues to develop.

Reflecting on my experience, three themes stand out: the importance of visible role models, the value of a personal approach, and the confidence that mentoring can build for both mentor and mentee.