Empowering 18-30 year old LGBT+ young people for successful careers through LGBT+ inclusive business mentoring.

LGBT+ business youth mentoring opportunity

Career Accelerator runs LGBT+ business youth mentoring programmes 3 times a year – across Autumn Term (September-December), Spring Term (January-April) and Summer Term (May-July).

Our programmes, in collaboration with PinkNews Futures and National Student Pride support 18-30 year old LGBT+ people prepare for careers in the professional sectors. We do this through arranging 1:1 business mentoring led by LGBT+ mentors and allies at LGBT+ inclusive companies, such as LinkedIn, Snapchat, AstraZeneca, Pearson and GoCardless over 3 months.

Sign up here to get involved as a mentee.

If you have any questions about joining the programme feel free to book a call with Career Accelerator’s Head of Youth Programmes Manager Rebecca here.

Why our LGBT+ Programme exists for young people

Vodafone and Out Now found that 41% of 18-25 year olds have gone ‘back into the closet’ within their first year of employment for fear of discrimination.

Vodafone and Out Now

PWC has found that 78% of LGBT+ people and their friends, family and relatives would switch to brands that are known to be LGBT+ friendly.

PWC

Stonewall’s research highlighted that LGBT+ people are not receiving careers guidance about careers and workplaces that are LGBT+ inclusive.

Stonewall

Stonewall has highlighted that an LGBT+ person’s assumptions about how safe or inclusive a workplace is will significantly narrow the career paths they will consider.

Stonewall

The aims of our LGBT+ mentoring programme:

Learn about LGBT+ inclusive jobs in the professional sectors.

Develop ambitious, realistic career goals and make steps to achieve them.

Build their LGBT+ professional network.

Build confidence and appreciate their value as LGBT+ youth.

Navigate being a young LGBT+ person finding employment and progressing in it.

How our LGBT+ Programme works

Sign Up

Career Accelerator runs LGBT+ business youth mentoring programmes in collaboration with LGBT+ young people aged 18-30 and LGBT+ business mentors and allies.

Interview

We work with cohorts of mentors per quarter and connect LGBT+ business mentors and allies up with bright, hard working LGBT+ young people who would like and value mentoring.

Training

For mentors we offer a 2 hour training session. For mentees we offer a 1 hour mentee training session where mentees can network with the other LGBT+ mentee.

Support

Career Accelerator takes care of selecting the LGBT+ mentees, training the mentors and mentees, supporting with session ideas and putting together impact reports, leaving business mentors to focus on the impactful mentoring.

The impact of our programme

Our latest post-programme survey results 2022.

%

Of mentees said they are planning on continuing to be in touch with their mentor at the end of the programme.

%

Of employees found acting as a mentor a meaningful volunteering opportunity for them.

%

Of mentees agreed that the programme helped them build their professional network.

%

Of mentees agreed that the programme has increased their understanding of LGBT+ inclusive companies and jobs.

Get involved

See where our mentees are now or sign up to get involved as a mentee.

CASE STUDIES SIGN UP HERE TO BE A MENTEE

What our Mentees and Mentors have to say

The mentoring has been super useful. A lot of the mentoring was about things such as CVs and interviews, but having someone who’s also part of the LGBT+ community made the process enjoyable and easy-going.

Braden

Mentee

It was very beneficial to me as I got to speak to someone who understood me and my needs. My mentor was very supportive and kind as well as informative.

Beyonte

Mentee

I’ve been able to work with people I wouldn’t normally work with and connect on topics and experiences I wouldn’t normally discuss with colleagues.

Patrick

Mentor

It was a great opportunity to become a mentor to someone who wanted to work full-time in the industry. I also learnt a lot of what it takes to become one too.

Savan

Mentor, PinkNews

It was good to be able to share some personal experiences with my mentee and impart advice that she took on board and led to her securing a job.

Carmen

Mentor

See all our Testimonials