Mentoring is key to professional development at CIHT, and its importance is only growing as the mentoring programme expands in 2026. This growth will include not just professional qualification support, but also broader career help and reverse mentoring for all members.

Mentoring provides tailored guidance, helping mentees identify gaps in their knowledge or experience and supporting them in planning the right activities to build their skills. This guidance is especially valuable when working towards professional qualifications or navigating career transitions.

Mentees gain critical soft skills – such as communication, leadership and problem-solving – by learning directly from experienced professionals. Mentors, meanwhile, act as role models and provide constructive feedback, which helps mentees grow both personally and professionally.

Mentoring relationships often open doors to professional networks and opportunities, which are crucial for career advancement. Mentors can introduce mentees to influential contacts and help them navigate organisational structures.

CIHT’s mentoring programme is designed to foster a culture of continuous learning and inclusivity, ensuring that members at all stages of their careers have access to support and development opportunities.

The expanded offering brings benefits for both mentees and mentors. Mentees will receive personalised advice and support, increasing their chances of success in professional reviews and helping them achieve their goals more efficiently. Meanwhile, the support and encouragement from mentors can contribute to greater wellbeing and self-confidence, making career challenges more manageable.

Working with a mentor helps mentees set goals, stay accountable, and maintain motivation throughout their professional journey.

“I am sincerely grateful for the exceptional support and guidance provided by my CIHT mentor,” said Sathyan Yogalingam, who works at Ashghal Public Works Authority. “Their encouragement, insight, and commitment were instrumental in helping me achieve Chartered Status.”

Meanwhile, mentors will be able to develop and refine their leadership and communication abilities, which are valuable in any professional context. They will also have the opportunity to contribute to the professional growth of others, give back to the sector and experience the satisfaction of supporting someone else’s career development.

Furthermore, engaging with mentees from different backgrounds helps mentors gain new perspectives and expand their own professional networks. Mentors stay up to date with emerging trends and industry developments while training within the platform – and in CIHT Learn – helps to develop mentoring skills

Both mentors and mentees can count their mentoring activities towards the 25 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) required annually by CIHT.

CIHT’s 2026 expansion: what’s new?

The CIHT mentoring programme recently reached a significant milestone. With our online platform for professional qualification mentoring – launched in 2025 – delivering such great results, we’re now ready to start phase two: the launch of general career mentoring for all members.

Launched in mid-2025, the initial phase of the CIHT mentoring platform focused on supporting members seeking professional registration. The response from the CIHT community has been exceptional and nearly 100 mentors are now registered on the platform – almost double our original target.

Phase 2 will expand the mentoring offer beyond professional registration to include career mentoring and even reverse mentoring to ensure all members at all career stages can benefit from mentoring. The expansion aligns with CIHT’s equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) action plan, aiming to support underrepresented groups and foster a more inclusive professional community.

We invite all members to consider how they can contribute – either as a mentor, a mentee, or both.

Image: concept of mentor helping mentee with practical, learned experience. Credit: Shutterstock.