At London College of Communication (LCC), knowledge sharing lies at the heart of the student experience, cultivating innovation and collaboration and helping young creatives overcome barriers as they transition into the industry.
A cornerstone of our employability offering is our annual Industry Mentoring Programme. Now in its ninth year, the initiative connects final-year students and recent graduates with seasoned industry professionals for 6 months of tailored guidance, covering every aspect of creative careers — from perfecting a standout CV to mastering networking and personal branding.
As we prepare to launch the 2025 edition of the programme, welcoming a diverse cohort of new and seasoned mentors to our ranks, InSitu founder and mentoring expert Maggie O'Regan shares insights into the practice of group mentoring. She also talks about the positive impact of working with multiple students on fostering knowledge exchanges that promote inclusivity, strengthen peer connections and empower aspiring artists at a critical juncture in their creative journeys.
I was inspired by circumstance, really. I was in the unusual position of mentoring 4 graduates across UAL. Two were MA Art Direction alumni from LCC who were considering their future trajectories, and I had 2 Fine Art mentees – 1 in the final year of a BA at Chelsea and the other a recent BA Camberwell graduate. In my mentoring I always try to introduce mentees to other industry professionals who can provide specific insights. It made sense with the presence of shared disciplines to arrange group sessions to maximise the professionals’ time.
From there, I discovered that running sessions this way provides an excellent means of maximising a hands-on approach and allows for a more dynamic exchange of information unique to group settings. It also meant I could tailor some of the sessions much like one would arrange a social event – either formally at an artist studio for instance or within other informal settings. Occasionally sessions took on a life of their own as in the case of the artist Sinta Tantra, who very generously hosted a dinner at her studio for my Fine Art mentees.
Apart from being a wonderful experience for everyone, sharing a meal together provided a relaxed and safe space for mentees to discuss challenges and receive advice, gain insights into how a professional artist develops their career and, most importantly, feel confident and hopeful about what is possible. It also forged a connection for the mentees with an inspiring artist much further in her career journey.
A group session enables the development of interpersonal skills because mentees must take turns, listen to others, contribute ideas, share experiences, ask questions and problem solve. It also facilitates useful industry introductions that, with a little nurturing, can become stepping stones in the mentees’ paths to success.
Mentoring programmes at UAL are normally 6 sessions. I split these on average into 4 1:1s and 2 group sessions with an industry specialist. Both for my individual and group work, I request a list of questions in advance and choose 1 or 2 for us to focus on. If we’re visiting an industry guest, I’ll also share the topics of conversation with them in advance and request mentees arrive prepared with specific questions relevant to the person they are meeting. After this, discussions are organic and approached in a way that will most benefit the mentees.
What I love about this approach is that a supportive culture shines through: it’s about community. I frequently outline to mentees the importance of keeping in touch with their fellow graduates, sharing information that might not be relevant to them but could benefit someone else; essentially creating a circular information economy. I emphasise the importance of maintaining peer relationships because opportunities to collaborate and work on projects are often much closer to home than they think. It’s not always about competition.
I think it’s helped us discover shared formulas for success. I draw on specialist knowledge within the industry. Recently, I facilitated a session between my MA Art Direction mentees and a professional from TikTok, who provided insights into best practice when writing a CV. On a practical insider-level, she was able to shed light on how the algorithms are used by potential employers to filter applications. This led to discussion around gaining freelance agency experience in contrast to applying for positions with a single company. We spoke about ways to ensure your portfolio or CV gets seen as well as how to contact potential hiring managers and commissioners via LinkedIn. These very specific insights are made possible because I tap into my personal network. Apart from the obvious benefit mentees receive, it demonstrates why networking and knowledge exchange is important and something they need to continually develop with their own peer group.
Bringing my mentees together did initially make me wonder whether they might feel ‘shared’. Group mentoring is useful in allowing young creatives to realise they have many common issues. It’s a great opportunity for them to exchange ideas, expand their problem-solving skills and learn to approach challenges differently.
The most positive result I have witnessed is that some will form supportive bonds and attend networking events together. I have also had an introverted mentee become aware that her ability to observe situations, listen and not rush in is just as powerful as the extrovert she admires who appears more confident socially, but may not always take time to fully assess situations. Likewise, extroverts have reflected on the value of a different approach to make clear and informed decisions. This awareness at its best is confidence building. It helps break down stereotypes and preconceived ideas around how to achieve success.
Shared mentoring experiences require a nimble approach from mentors as we think about how to support diverse mentees to network, pool and contrast their experiences. I recently connected my 2 MA Art Direction mentees with the award-winning photographer Rachel Louise Brown. One mentee joined the session online from Hong Kong with the rest of us meeting in person. I think it’s important to provide relevant role models when possible. While these mentees have very different career aspirations – 1 is interested in working in tech and the other with luxury brands – the beauty of the interaction was that Rachel was able to speak about pivotal moments in her career that correlated to both. They benefitted from her industry insights, discussion around shared experience of rejection, her advice on ways of gaining recognition, etc. It instilled a lot of hope because Rachel was able to illustrate her experience by talking about her background in a very honest and open way which enabled them to relate to her, demystify the process and realise she has been in their shoes. These engagements are powerful in breaking down perceived barriers.
Group sessions can also enable access to art events that would normally be outside of some mentees’ experience, either through financial constraints or otherwise. Through my industry connections I have provided access to Frieze Art Fair, The London Art Fair and Photo London for mentees and regularly hold mentoring sessions at art and design institutions such as Tate, V&A, Design Museum, etc. to break down any barriers they may think they will experience in accessing those spaces and might otherwise not explore. For example, I worked with a fine art graduate who surprisingly had never been to the National Gallery, so we took a trip there.
It’s interesting to observe the difference between mentees from the same discipline and why this is a positive. Group sessions provide platforms for conversations that might not otherwise occur because the dynamic will never be the same as a 1:1 but it does require a degree of patience from participants. I never bring mentees together without the involvement of another industry professional who has a specific relevance for the group. This model enables a more in-depth dissection of ideas where everyone contributes and learns something, including the mentor. It demonstrates on a small scale the value of knowledge exchange and networking. It also develops emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills in the group.
It’s important for mentoring to be meaningful by bringing together relevant role models for graduates. Mentees become confident that success is possible when they can relate to the examples you provide as a mentor. Following the conclusion of one of the mentorships, my mentee shared that before she had even applied for mentorship she had “already given up” and had lost confidence pursuing a profession as an artist. However, the supportive conversations she experienced, which included a particularly significant visit for her to an artist studio, restored her hope because she met someone she could identify with, someone who is successful despite experiencing similar barriers. Mentors can be invaluable in providing opportunities to illustrate how perseverance and determination, along with a clear work ethic, are qualities that can be developed and a normal part of an artist journey.
Come prepared. Do your research, particularly if you are meeting a role model or industry professional for the first time. Be open minded and willing to learn. Be clear about what you want from the sessions. Ask questions. Remember they have been in your shoes know how it feels and are there to help. Observe how other mentees communicate and listen to the questions they ask. See if you can learn from their approach which might be very different to yours. Connect with your peers in the group and arrange to meet and attend networking events together. Know the value of supporting each other. Be punctual and respectful of everyone’s time.
Group mentoring sessions can be very enjoyable. It’s an opportunity to expand mentees’ experience by connecting them with industry professionals and their peers. It’s exciting to arrange these sessions and the engagement that comes from them is as rewarding and interesting for you as it is for them.
In any mentoring relationship, you must be respectful of your time and the value of your expertise. Be firm but open-minded: while you may encounter mentees who are continually late, cancel at the last minute, etc. it’s important to explore underlying causes in the first instance to avoid making assumptions.
Mentoring should be a safe space in which mentees learn and can afford to make a few mistakes. At the same time, as guides, it’s important to outline the realities and competitive nature of any industry. Talent is not always enough and should be combined with developing important soft skills to enable them to successfully navigate their chosen area.
Our Industry Mentoring Programme supports LCC students and recent graduates to explore opportunities across the creative sectors.
If you’d like to become an LCC mentor, you can register your interest in our Industry Mentoring Programme for 2026 online here by emailing graduates@lcc.arts.ac.uk.
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