Saturday 27 November marks National Mentoring Day 2018, which was launched to celebrate mentoring with a key focus on recognising excellence and raising awareness on the significant benefits of mentoring, as well as encouraging more people to get involved in mentoring.

The value of mentoring is clear to see. According to Sage.com, of those with a mentor 97% say they are valuable, 55% believe mentoring can help them succeed, 60% look for experience in a mentor above anything else, but worryingly 85% currently do not have a mentor. However, mentoring is not just for individuals: research has shown that 70% of small businesses that receive mentoring survive for five years or more, which is double the rate compared with non-mentored entrepreneurs.

For marketers in particular, where the industry is ever-changing, mentoring can be a vital source of knowledge and experience. We spoke to one CIM mentor, Jeremy Hurst FCIM, who reiterated: “Having a good mentor is one of the key metrics of successful people, regardless of the stage of their career. This is particularly relevant in the marketing profession, where building a trusted relationship with your client or customer is so important to the delivery of successful campaigns.”

CIM has been supporting marketers for over 100 years, and we launched our mentoring platform in September 2014 to boost professional development and empower marketers across the industry. The platform is available to both UK and international marketers, with over 2,500 active members from brands such as PwC, Samsung, British Airways and Panasonic. CIM’s mentoring services cater to a range of lifestyles and expertise, with mentors varying from management level through to CEOs and directors. Guidance is available to experienced marketers through coaching on senior management subjects, whether you need advice on an upcoming campaign or are progressing towards a more senior management position.

Speaking about the benefits of mentoring as a platform for young professionals, Hurst added: “Even if the mentor is just used as a sounding board and nothing more, their experience and hard-earned wisdom could be invaluable.”

As part of the mentoring programme, CIM members have the opportunity to build a relationship with a senior, experienced and knowledgeable marketing professional, which can build both your confidence and abilities.

For mentors, it is an opportunity to give back to the marketing world by helping to shape the career and future of others. Discussing the renewed need for mentoring in the marketing sector, Lynn Mathieson FCIM, said: “In the last 10 years, the role of the marketing function has been significantly redefined, resulting in career paths being less well defined. Being an external mentor allows you to create an open dialogue where mentees can explore different options… Only they can make the decision as to ‘what next’, but having access to an independent sounding board can be rewarding, both for them and for their mentor.”

To find out more about how you can benefit from CIM’s mentoring platform, visit our dedicated webpage.