The Mentoring Programme
Investor relations is a career built on insight, confidence and continual growth. The Society’s Mentoring Programme, delivered in partnership with
Anna Hartropp Ltd., connects aspiring and experienced IR professionals with those who can offer guidance, perspective and practical support.
Whether you’re looking to build new skills, plan your next career step or simply gain clarity from someone who has been there before, this programme provides a trusted space for meaningful professional development.
Apply now
Applications for the IR Society’s 2026 Mentoring Programme are now open.
You can apply as a mentor or a mentee (or both) using the short forms below. Your responses help us match each mentee with an experienced mentor aligned to their goals.
Apply to be a mentor
Apply to be a mentee
The programme runs May to November. We’ll introduce matched pairs in late April, with an in-person first meeting recommended to agree expectations and outline the mentee’s Individual Development Plan. Most pairs meet monthly for an hour, but you can set a structure that works best for you.
To help you get the most from the experience, we provide guidance and host supporting events, including a mentee breakfast featuring insights from former participants—an excellent way to build your network.
Applications close Friday 10 April 2026!
Next steps
Once all of the application forms have been received we will work through the matching process, with a view to making introductions between mentors and mentees by late April 2026.
If you have any questions at any time please contact mentoring@irsociety.org.uk.
Taking part in the IR Society’s mentoring programme was a hugely valuable experience. It gave me the opportunity to broaden my professional network beyond my own industry and gain insight into how other organisations approach investor relations. Having an experienced, independent sounding board was incredibly helpful for discussing challenges and sharing perspectives on what ‘good IR’ looks like in practice.
Mentoring Programme FAQs
The IR Society Mentoring Programme is the latest addition to an expanding line-up of our services to support members’ professional development needs. The programme will facilitate the establishment of mentoring relationships and provide a framework for the development of these mentoring relationships with the end goal of helping mentees to successfully complete the actions contained in their individual development plans.
No – the Mentoring Programme is a benefit of membership and is available exclusively to IR Society members. There is no extra charge to use this resource.
Members must first complete an application form as a Mentor, Mentee or both. During the application process, members will provide a range of demographic and professional information, such as company size, industry sector, current and previous roles and specific IR experience. They will also indicate what they are hoping to achieve from the mentoring process. Once the application process is complete the IR Society will undertake a matching process based on the information provided in the application forms. Where it is possible to make a successful match we will inform the mentor and mentee via email that they have been matched and we will make the introduction. Mentors and mentees should then arrange an initial conversation to determine whether they feel they can develop a successful mentoring relationship.
If you are an IR Society member, click here to complete the Mentor application form.
Mentees are other IR Society members who need your help to support their career development.
We would suggest a maximum of three mentees to any mentor at any one time. We recommend that you select Mentees who are most suited to learn from your expertise and experience.
The mentoring programme will last for six months. We recommend that you and your Mentor agree on a schedule that works best for both of you. The most important thing is to discuss your mutual expectations about time and communication at the start of your relationship.
Sponsored by
Anna Hartropp Ltd.
Anna Hartropp connects companies with experienced investor relations professionals.
Anna delivers a bespoke search service for clients looking to hire investor relations officers or teams. Having previously worked in-house as an IRO and as an advisor, she combines her industry insight and experience with an extensive corporate and personal network, to help companies recruit investor relations professionals.