The 2025-2026 programme is currently underway. To apply to our next programme 2026-27 (opening in mid-February 2025), you can keep an eye on this page, follow our social media, or sign up to our mailing list.
WiFCERM Mentoring Programme 2025
Are you ready to thrive in 2025?
Women in FCERM can help
Unlock your potential by joining our Women in FCERM group mentoring programme!
The Women in FCERM Mentoring Programme is designed to connect people who have a particular skill set (mentor) with a small group of individuals (mentees). The groups come together to learn from each other, develop and make progress toward their personal and professional goals.
The mentoring groups meet face to face and / or virtually. The groups cover specific issues and topics that women have told us they want support and mentoring on. These topics range from personal skills, career progression, and work-life balance.
Our mentors and mentees work for many different organisations in the flood and water industry. This provides a range of experiences and backgrounds.
Mentors do not need to have experience of being a mentor or be a woman.
There’s even more to our mentoring programme
We run additional training sessions throughout the year for our mentees and mentors. Previous topics include interview techniques; productivity; #iamremarkable; parenthood and careers; CIWEM chartership; career development and networking. These are free to join and the recordings are made available after the event.
In 2025/26, for the first time, we will also be awarding a ‘Certificate of Achievement’ to those mentees who demonstrate excellent participation and commitment to the programme.
Success of the WiFCERM Programme
Since 2019, WiFCERM have supported over 500 women to grow personally and professionally through the successful group mentoring programme.
In 2022, the mentoring programme was shortlisted for Defra’s ‘Uniting us’ award, recognising the impact of mentoring in bringing together women in the sector. And in 2024, WiFCERM featured in CIWEM’s The Environment Monthly and the Flood Industry publications, highlighting our success.
Feedback from previous mentoring programmes also shows the benefits that mentees and mentors gained from their mentoring experience.
Our Mentors said:
‘It was my pleasure to be as a mentor on this platform and really loved sharing my experiences with other women who face similar challenges and I also learnt from theirs. It was a very positive journey. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of it’.
‘Group mentoring is great because you get to spend time with a group of thoughtful and inspiring women. And if I can share my experiences and perspectives to help them succeed then that makes me feel honoured and proud. As a mentor I think you learn a lot about yourself and it opens your mind up to differing views, challenges and perspectives. The benefits go both ways!’
Our Mentees said:
‘I just wanted to share the news that I have a new role. I’ve really benefitted from your mentoring in the ‘Women in FCRM’ pilot so want to say a huge thank you. The other mentees and I have agreed to continue supporting one another with quarterly check-ins, and ad hoc meetings as necessary so it’s had a really positive impact. We all seem to be driving forward with new opportunities and roles’.
‘I liked the small group and felt it worked very well in terms of shyness etc. The content was good and definitely covered the subject. We all had time to practice and put ourselves out of our comfort zones. I also liked the group helping shape the mentoring to what we all needed’.
Applications for the 2025 WiFCERM Mentoring Programme are now closed
Applications closed on Sunday 16 March. We will use the application forms to match mentees and mentors and create our mentoring groups. Successful mentors and mentees will be notified in early April.
Get ahead on your application by:
- Thinking about what personal or professional goals you want to achieve from the mentoring programme. What do you want to be different in 12 months’ time?
- Reading the information pack and reviewing our mentoring topics on offer this year
- Discussing your development objectives with your line manager for the year ahead
Why become a mentor?
Our Mentoring Information Pack above should provide all the information you need on what being a mentor involves, but it’s always great to hear people’s direct experiences. Our short video introduces some of our male allies who have been mentors in previous years and why they joined the Women in FCERM Mentoring Programme.
For any queries, please contact us at WiFCERMMentoring@environment-agency.gov.uk.
womeninfcerm.org 