Mentoring for the Naval Enterprise
Mentoring
At UKNEST, we offer three types of professional support to help individuals develop their skills, build confidence, and grow within the maritime and defence sectors:
- Mentoring
- Buddying
- Reverse Mentoring
Each type is designed to support people at different stages of their career journey, whether you’re seeking guidance, peer support or fresh perspectives.
The UKNEST mentoring programme has been established to promote and facilitate mentoring relationships and we hope it provides a valuable resource for you to either find a mentor or be found by someone seeking a mentor.
Some of the many benefits of mentoring include:
- Exposure to new ways of thinking and gaining support from a critical friend
- Advice on developing strengths and overcoming weaknesses
- Guidance on professional development and career advancement
- The opportunity to develop new skills and professional knowledge
Mentoring
Mentoring is the pairing of an early career professional (mentee) or UKNEST Scholar with someone more established in their career (mentor). The pairing is often between two people that would not normally have any interaction with each other. This professional relationship allows the mentor to pass on experience to the mentee and help them to develop professionally, providing guidance and support.
How it helps:
- Offers objective advice outside of day-to-day work.
- Helps set SMART goals and track progress.
- Builds confidence, leadership and problem-solving skills for both mentor and mentee.
Ideal for:
Individuals seeking structured professional development, career guidance or support in overcoming challenges.
Reverse Mentoring
Reverse Mentoring pairs a junior professional (mentor) with a senior leader (mentee), allowing the senior colleague to gain insight into emerging skills, technology, culture and early-career perspectives.
How it helps:
- Senior leaders gain insight into new technologies, generational perspectives, and organisational culture.
- Junior professionals develop confidence, communication and leadership skills.
- Promotes inclusivity and innovation across the organisation.
Ideal for:
Senior leaders, or anyone looking to gain insight and experience from those early in their careers.
Buddying
A Buddy is a special type of Mentor. They are someone in the earlier stages of their career drawn from the FutureNEST Early Career Professional network. Buddying is offered to UKNEST Scholars as part of their package of support during their year as a member of the UKNEST Scholarship Programme.
- Offers informal support from someone with recent experience of academia and starting their career in the Naval sector.
- Helps build connections and foster collaboration.
- Encourages open conversation about challenges in a safe space.
REMEMBER Mentoring can change lives and careers!
UK Nest has chosen to work with UK-based mentoring experts Perform Learn Develop who support a wide variety of professional bodies, companies and public service organisations, to help us support and maintain high quality mentoring relationships which benefit both ‘mentees’ (those receiving mentoring) and ‘mentors’ (those offering it). This platform is run by Perform Learn Develop on our behalf.
Sign up now as a Mentor or Mentee (UKNEST Member organisations and Scholars only):
Get Started
- Register on our mentoring platform.
- Create your profile and choose to become a mentor, mentee, buddy – or all three.
- Search, connect, and begin your mentoring, buddying or reverse mentoring journey.
