Nurturing our region’s talent through She Leads

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​In a change from my usual monthly article delving into topics related to recruitment and workforce strategy, I wanted to take an opportunity to personally reflect on our She Leads mentor programme.

It’s been a personal goal for some time; to bring together the talented women we have in our region and support the next generation of leaders. In April 2025 that vision came to life as we opened registrations for our first intake of mentees interested in participating in our new programme.

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Setting up a female mentor programme

She Leads is designed to inspire women who are looking for mentorship and guidance, and we have engaged the support of a fantastic team of mentors who bring a wealth of personal and professional experience.

That’s exactly why the She Leads programme came about, when I reflected on my own career development and the inspirational women who have helped me along the way. It is truly incredible what women can achieve when they have the right role models and support in place, and I’m proud to have witnessed in recent months, a fantastic group of women seizing the opportunity to participate in our inaugural programme.

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Selecting our 2025 mentees

Some participants run their own small businesses and were looking for support to take them to the next level, and some participants were keen to work with business leaders to progress their careers and push themselves. It’s been inspiring to see their developments through the programme, and the impact our mentors have been making.

As a mentor myself, I’ve really enjoyed spending time with my mentee Lauren, understanding how she wants to advance in her career, whilst giving her the confidence push needed to action her plans.

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Reflecting on progress

In October our mentees and mentors came together for a round table event at the North Lakes Hotel and Spa, Women Supporting Women. This was a fantastic opportunity to hear first-hand how participants had been getting on, as well as the experience of fellow mentors. By the end of the day, it was clear to see we have an exceptional group of people who have been taking themselves out of their comfort zones and taking full advantage of the experience and support our mentors provide. It was a personal highlight of the year for me, and the day my vision to set up a female mentor programme came full circle.

Our continued thanks to in-Cumbria for their support ensuring this important initiative is seen across the region, and we hope it inspires people to consider applying for our 2026 programme.

If you’re interested in joining the 2026 intake as a mentor, then visit nrl.co.uk/sheleads to find out more and apply.

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