The UK Women in Fisheries mentorship programme is a matchmaking service and is a voluntary relationship between members of our network. Each mentee-mentor has the freedom to shape the relationship in any way that suits their needs, schedules and whatever they hope to achieve together. 

Generally, mentoring should last around 6 months. By being matched with a mentor/mentee with UK Women in Fisheries, you’re welcome to use any of the resources on this page. After six months of being matched, you’ll be sent a short reflection questionnaire to learn more about your experience. 

While these guidelines provide a framework to help get started, you’re encouraged to adapt the structure to your unique goals and preferences. Along the way, you’re welcome to reach out to me for support or advice, and you’ll find a variety of resources on our webpage to help inspire ideas, guide conversations, and deepen connections. 

1. Getting to Know Each Other 

This first step is all about building trust and creating a comfortable foundation for a productive mentorship. As a mentor, you’ll gain insights into the unique experiences and aspirations of your mentee, which can enrich your own perspective in the industry. Building rapport in these early sessions helps set a positive tone for the entire mentorship journey, so committing time to connect meaningfully is essential.

Mentees will benefit by having a safe space to share their story, ambitions, and challenges, while feeling supported and understood. 

2. Set Goals and Objectives 

In this phase, mentors and mentees work together to establish clear, achievable goals that align with the mentee’s ambitions and needs. 

As a mentor, you’ll get to strengthen your leadership and coaching skills by helping the mentee articulate their goals and breaking them down into manageable steps. This step is crucial for creating a focused, structured path for mentorship.

The mentee gains clarity and direction in this process, helping them move forward confidently and purposefully. Setting achievable goals can sometimes be difficult, and you may need multiple sessions to work out what is truly desired, achievable and sustainable.

Feel free to use some of the goal setting resources listed here.

3. Action

The action phase is where the mentorship takes form through activities, learning, and real-time feedback. 

Mentors have the opportunity to share expertise, offer resources, and guide their mentee’s progress. Mentees may benefit from a skills exchange, meeting in-person, commit to attending training courses, offer to volunteer or take on an additional work project. Or, perhaps your mentee needs help with their CV, job applications or interview prep.

Mentees benefit by putting goals into practice with supportive guidance, helping them overcome obstacles and build new skills. 

4. Reflection

The final phase involves reviewing the mentee’s progress, and reflecting on the overall experience and celebrating achievements. 

Mentors can see the impact of their guidance, gain insights into the mentorship process, and identify areas for growth. 

For mentees, reflecting on the process boosts their confidence, and provides closure on the goals set.