B-MEntor: cross-institutional London-wide mentoring scheme for academic and research staff from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) backgrounds

Now in its fourth year, UCL is currently recruiting the next cohort of mentees and mentors for B-MEntor, the cross-institutional London-wide mentoring scheme for academic and research staff from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) backgrounds.

It is being run in partnership with King's College London and Queen Mary, University of London.

It is a well-established programme which was shortlisted for two national awards in 2014: the ENEI Tapping into Talent award and the Race for Opportunity Developing Talent (Progression) Award.

The scheme enables UCL to meet its corporate commitment to 'To enhance career development opportunities for BME staff - to improve the representation of BME staff at senior grades';

The requirements for participation in this scheme are: 

• Mentors: must be at Senior Lecturer, Reader or Professorial level. Mentors can be from any ethnic background.

• Mentees: should be from post-doc to lecturer level and self-identify as being from Black and Minority Ethnic background.

We would particularly like to encourage staff of Black origin to join the scheme as they are under-represented as academics and researchers in UCL overall.

The mentoring period will be approximately one year and a comprehensive training and support package is offered for all parties. The selection and matching of mentor and mentees will take place at the end of January and will be carried out according to needs, interests and research discipline.

Provisional Briefing Date

All new mentees and mentors can attend a briefing to find out more, if they are interested in the scheme.

The first scheduled date is 12 October, 1-2pm, Room 2.46 Franklin Wilkins Building, King's College Waterloo campus - www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/campuses/download/StrandMaughanWaterloolocation.pdf

We may add an extra briefing in mid-late November, if there is demand for it.

We would be very grateful to have all expressions of interest by Friday 11 December . Mentors and Mentees should complete the form here http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/equalities/race/BMEntor.php and send them to Sonal Bharadva, equalities@ucl.ac.uk

Please contact me if you have any queries about this scheme. A full list of FAQs can be found on the B-MEntor web pages: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/equalities/race/mentor_FAQs.php

Thank you in advance for helping us make this innovative project a continuing success.

Sarah Guise, Head of Equalities and Diversity, UCL Human Resources Division