She Leads mentor programme
We’re proud to be collaborating with in-Cumbria to deliver a women’s mentor programme across the region. Find out more about the She Leads programme and how you could get involved in 2026.
What is She Leads?
NRL are proud to have created the She Leads mentor programme, an initiative supporting women in Cumbria with career and personal development, delivered in partnership with in-Cumbria.
This free 12-month programme pairs participants with experienced female mentors from leading local businesses, offering invaluable 1-2-1 guidance. Open to women aged 18+ living in Cumbria, She Leads welcomes applicants at any career stage - whether starting out, returning to work, or aspiring to move into leadership roles.
Mentors commit to at least 2 hours per month with their mentee, tailoring sessions to suit individual goals. There is no set structure, as participants will collaborate with their mentors to define objectives and maximise their experience. Each She Leads pairing is unique and is built around each mentee's needs and how the programme will best benefit them.
2026 applications are now open for mentors and mentees
Apply nowFrequently asked questions
Absolutely, if you're a small business owner and you're looking for support to take it to the next level then the She Leads mentor programme could be ideal.
Yes, if you're looking to get back into work then a mentor can be beneficial to help you understand your key skills and identify potential career paths.
That's a question we've been asked before, and the simple response is no. It doesn't matter what stage in life you are at; if you are looking for career support or help progressing your small business, then a mentor can support this.
That's up to you, but we would recommend letting them know as you'll need to organise regular time with your mentor.
We also organise opportunities to meet fellow participants throughout the 12 month programme, so you may need to request time off work to attend these.
We'd also encourage you to build the mentor programme into any personal development plans you have in place with your manager.
We'll ask you to dedicate a minimum of 2 hours a month to your mentee, but you can decide how best to use this time.
You may opt for one session that's face to face each month, or smaller meetings over video calls. Perhaps a mix of both would work best, but you can discuss this with your mentee and agree on the best approach - then review it throughout the 12 month programme.
You can also set expectations around how you liaise with each other outside of your meetings, such as your preferred communication channel and times you're available for short exchanges.
We'll also plan in some opportunities for all mentees and mentors to get together throughout the programme, which we'll share in advance so you can plan them around your work commitments.
If you're working within the senior management or leadership team in your organisation, or you run your own business, then you will have a wealth of insight and experience you could share with a mentee.
That might be helping them gain the confidence and the missing skill set needed to secure their own leadership position. Or it may be helping them with sales or marketing plans. Your mentee might own their own business but need finance or HR advice to scale it up, or they might want to work on their softer skills, such as public speaking and advocating to secure new job opportunities.
We look to match mentees with the right mentor to ensure your skills make you best placed to help them.
Supporting future leaders
Through the mentor programme local business leaders will share their experiences and insight to help the chosen mentees progress their own goals. What those goals are and what that support looks like will be specific to each mentor partnership, with the programme designed to allow participants to shape their working relationships the best way they feel it will lead to success.
What mentees can expect though is open and honest conversations, and a genuine interest from mentors to help programme participants, as NRL’s Egremont Director Rebecca Graves explains.
"She Leads is about creating a platform where female leaders can share their knowledge and experience, helping other women in the community to grow and develop their careers. I’m incredibly passionate about this, and in speaking with other business leaders, I know they feel the same way. By connecting ambitious women with mentors who have already forged successful careers, we hope to foster meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships that support individuals and the wider business community."
Women supporting women
Each of our 2025 mentors works within Cumbria and have extensive experience to share.
- Gill Haigh, Managing Director of Cumbria Tourism
- Rachel Seal, Recovery Solutions Director at David Allen
- Joy Yates, Regional Group Editor of in-Cumbria/Newsquest
- Kelly Horley, PR and External Communication Manager at Cumberland Building Society
- Sharon Brook, Head of Sales, North Lakes Hotel & Spa and Langdale Chase Hotel
- Rebecca Graves, Director at NRL
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