B-MEntor
B-MEntor: cross-institutional London-wide mentoring scheme for Academic and Professional Services staff from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.
B-MEntor, is run in partnership with University College London, Queen Mary University of London, King’s College London, University of the Arts London, University of London, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
Applications for taking part in B-MEntor 2025-26 have now closed.
If you would like to join our waiting list for B-MEntor 2026-27, please email the UCL B-MEntor team (b-mentor@ucl.ac.uk) and we will send you a notification when we next open for applications (this is likely to be in November 2026).
This positive action programme contributes to Queen Mary’s 2030 strategic aim to be ‘the most inclusive university of its kind anywhere’ and aligns with the work of our Race Equality Action Group and Race Equality Action Plan. Mentoring is vital to supporting the development of Queen Mary's diverse talent and could help you take your next career steps.
The requirements for participation in the programme are as follows:
- Academic Mentors: Must be at Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor/Reader or Professorial level. Mentors can be from any ethnic background.
- Academic Mentees: Should be from post-doctoral to lecturer level and self-identify as Black, Asian, Mixed or those who identify as being from an ethnic minority background as this is where the evidence of under representation exists.
- Professional Services Mentors: Can identify from any ethnic background as Professional Services staff, job title may include: Manager, Director, Head of, Senior Advisor/Officer, (recognising that grading systems vary between institutions).
- Professional Services Mentees: Should self-identify as Black, Asian, Mixed or those who identify as being from an ethnic minority background as Professional Services staff, job title may include: Assistant, Administrator, Officer, Adviser, Co-ordinator, (recognising that grading systems vary between institutions).We would particularly like to encourage staff of Black origin to join the programme as they are under-represented in Professional Services, in partner institutions.
We would particularly like to encourage staff of Black origin to join the programme as they are under-represented as academics and researchers at Queen Mary overall.
The mentoring period will be approximately one year, and a training and support package is offered for all parties. The selection and matching of mentors and mentees will take place from February 2026.
Academic
Register your interest and apply by Friday 9th January 2026 - please note that registration may close early to maintain a proportionate number of mentors and mentees and ensure all registered mentees receive a match.
Mentees and Mentors must be available for the mandatory online training on one of the following dates:
- Mentee Training: Wednesday 10th December 2025 at 10:00-12:00 or Wednesday 21st January 2026 at 14:00-16:00.
- Mentor Training: Tuesday 16th December 2025 at 10:00-12:00 or Wednesday 21st January 2026 at 14:00-16:00.
Professional Services
Register your interest and apply by Friday 9th January 2026 - please note that registration may close early to maintain a proportionate number of mentors and mentees and ensure all registered mentees receive a match.
Mentees and Mentors must be available for the mandatory online training on one of the following dates:
- Mentee Training: Thursday 11th December 2025 at 14:00-16:00 or Thursday 22nd January 2026 at 10:00-12:00.
- Mentor Training: Wednesday 17th December 2025 at 14:00-16:00 or Thursday 29th January 2026 at 10:00-12:00.
Please contact hr-equality@qmul.ac.uk or the the B-MEntor team (UCL) if you have any queries about this scheme. A complete list of FAQs can be found on their B-MEntor webpage .
