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Supporting Tutors Future Pathways

A new mentoring programme launched by Tutor Trust pairs tutors with workplace professionals to support their career goals. 

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  • Time to read: 4 minutes

Tutor Trust is always looking to new ways to support our tutors and during the 2025-26 academic year we developed a mentoring programme designed to support tutors in engaging with professionals in the workplace to help them explore their next career steps.

Tutor Trust tutors are predominantly undergraduate students or recent graduates who are keen to work within their local communities. They act as role models and mentors to young people, helping to improve academic attainment. Given the demographics of our tutors, many are considering their future career pathways, and tutoring provides a strong foundation of transferable skills that support this progression.

Tutoring offers meaningful employment that enables tutors to develop professional skills while maintaining strong connections with their communities. Aiasha, spoke about her experience of tutoring saying, 

It has improved my communication and problem-solving skills, taught me patience and adaptability, and deepened my empathy.”

Another tutor, Asha who is studying Psychology at the University of Manchester said,

I think being a tutor has helped me build confidence, find passion in work and has helped me to develop skills which are transferable to other roles”

The commitment and professionalism required for the role equip tutors with attributes that support a smooth transition into their chosen careers and demonstrate their value to future employers.

To further support of tutors in this journey, Tutor Trust collaborated with Impetus to launch a mentoring programme that pairs tutors with professionals who are established in the workplace. The programme aims to support tutors by enabling them to:

  • Gain valuable insight into industries related to their mentors’ experiences, alongside guidance on career progression 
  • Receive feedback on career pathways, job applications, CVs, and interview techniques 
  • Set realistic career goals and receive support in achieving them 
  • Develop and strengthen essential skills such as communication, problem solving, and networking

The programme also offers significant benefits for mentors, including opportunities to:

  • Develop leadership skills through coaching, communication, and mentoring 
  • Help connect them to their communities by working with local tutors and building connections in the area. 
  • Reassess their knowledge and assumptions by having a different perspective on situations. 
  • Strengthen their own knowledge through teaching and explaining concepts. 

Ten tutors took part in the pilot programme, each carefully matched with a mentor whose career aligned with their aspirations, skills, or experiences. This included pairing tutors interested in legal careers with lawyers, those pursuing finance with individuals working in private equity, and tutors aiming for third-sector roles with professionals working in charities.

Tutors spoke very positively about their experiences: 

It has been very valuable for giving me the skills and confidence to pursue the next steps in a career.’
Oscar, Tutor Trust Tutor
I was very happy with the match. The mentor is very knowledgeable about my area of interest and she's very good at helping me understand what to do.’
Francesco, Tutor Trust Tutor

Mentors were also positive about the programme, with all mentors who replied to a mid-point check-in agreeing or strongly agreeing they had added value to their mentee during the programme. 

One tutor, Madiha, shared her experience after securing a role as an advisory trainee in a valuations team following her participation in the mentoring programme.

Madiha was a third-year university student who was actively seeking employment and was looking to build confidence in preparing for interviews and assessment centres, as well as improving her CV to a high standard. When asked about her experience on the programme, she said:

I found the mentoring experience exceptional. I like the fact that my mentor took time to actually get to know me and my background and could relate to me. She had great understanding of what I wanted to achieve and was able to help me. Every session we had a goal in mind and combatted that.’

As well as going over interview techniques, she found her biggest takeaway was the confidence she gained and the reassurance her mentor gave her about interviews. She found this helped her during her interview and she was able to clearly demonstrate initiative and confidence. 

In addition to interview preparation, Madiha found increased confidence was the biggest skill she gained. The reassurance and guidance she received helped her to demonstrate initiative and confidence during her interview process.

She shared:

I believe this mentoring experience is a great opportunity for people like me, especially in an ever-changing job sector. With the right match, you can truly find a bond with someone and they can boost you to a new level. Originally, I was debating on whether I should do it, but I'm so glad that I did because there's always more you can learn.’

As an organisation we continue to reflect on the successes of this programme and the next steps to support our tutors.

If you are a corporate organisation interested in mentoring please get in touch.

Email us here.