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Manchester Gold applications now open

12 Sep 2025

Advancing professional development through mentoring and shared learning

Image of two colleagues talking and Your Voice Matters icon

Manchester Gold is our flagship mentoring scheme, led by the Talent Development Team. It connects mentors and mentees from across the University, empowering colleague growth and encouraging the sharing of invaluable experience.

Insights from our recent Your Voice Matters survey show that only 47% of respondents feel their career aspirations are being met, and just 55% have regular conversations about their personal and professional development.

Due to high demand as well as feedback from our surveys, we’re excited to announce a second intake this year, applications are now open and will close on Friday, 3 October.

Matching will take place throughout October, and mentoring relationships will begin in November 2025 and continue through to August 2026

Sonal Patel, Director of Talent Development, said: ‘Manchester Gold is about more than mentoring, it is about strengthening our University community. By learning from one another, we create a culture that thrives on openness, collaboration, and shared success. In response to your feedback from Your Voice Matters and our colleague experience surveys, as well as the enthusiasm we have seen, we will now run the programme twice a year, allowing even more colleagues to take part. 

Apply to be a Mentor 

As a Manchester Gold Mentor, you'll have the opportunity to support a colleague’s professional growth, share your experience, and develop your own mentoring skills. We welcome applications from Mentors from all grades and from all types of roles. Your experience and areas of expertise will be valuable to our Mentees, and there is full training and support for those new to mentoring. 

Apply to be a Mentee

Colleagues join the scheme seeking mentorship in various areas, including career direction, promotion support, leadership development, project management, communication skills, grant applications, research income, evidencing teaching excellence, confidence building and more. Apply to be a Mentee and we will aim to match you with a Mentor that can support you with your particular goals, and you will have the support of the wider Manchester Gold network! 

More Information