The Beginning
Inspired by years of co-designing industry programmes and taking stock of the informal mentoring offered to people throughout this process, we realised that training alone wasn't enough to support creatives in their careers, that, beyond industry exposure, creatives need a champion at every career stage—someone to offer guidance, listen without judgment, and open doors.
This led to the creation of Meet a Mentor, with its inaugural session held on April 13, 2016 for a cohort of 10 Mentees, at Made by Many, supported by the RSA Catalyst Fund and A New Direction. The event featured a CV and job application workshop by Somethin’ Else and a talk by DJ and broadcaster Nihal Arthanayake, who shared insights from his 20-year career, emphasizing the value of mentorship and diversity in the creative industries.


Meet a Mentor partnered with organisations to offer bespoke, supportive mentoring programmes for young upcoming creatives, fostering a nurturing and supportive environment for creatives to advance their careers.
The programme is structured around 6 evening sessions over six months. Each session included networking, one-on-one mentor-mentee time, and often concluded with an inspiring TED-style talk or masterclass.
Hosted at prestigious venues like Google, V&A, Airbnb, Karmarama and GPJ Johnson, these informal yet dynamic evenings were designed to be both enjoyable and enriching. Mentors frequently found the experience reciprocal, gaining insights into their own practices while giving back to the creative community.
The Middle
To date, Meet a Mentor has matched over 300 mentor-mentee pairs, helping mentees secure roles at leading organisations like Aardman, BBC, Channel 4, Grey London, ITV, Sony Music, VCCP, Hachette, as well as successful freelance positions in a whole host of creative fields.
Our mentors have come from companies such as Airbnb, BBC, Channel 4, Google, Dazed Media, Freeda Media, MediaCom, Untold Studios, PTEA Architects bringing a wealth of industry expertise and insight.
Meet a Mentor thrives thanks to the goodwill and support of our dedicated mentors and the invaluable contributions of individuals and organisations like A New Direction with whom the programme was initially developed, Bianca Manu, Charlie Tims, and others who have believed in and supported the programme's development.
Now

Fran Plowright, founder and curator of Meet a Mentor, collaborates with industry leaders to design and deliver training programmes for underrepresented young creatives seeking authentic, real-world learning experiences.
With a background in media production and deep connections in the broadcast and the creative industries, Fran is dedicated to nurturing new talent. She bridges the gap for emerging professionals, connecting like-minded creatives and opening doors to mentors, networks, and career opportunities.
Fran also supports businesses with accessing upcoming talent and curates discussions and masterclasses for young people, offering a platform for inspiring industry knowledge sharing and dialogue on education, youth culture, diversity, opportunities, and identity in modern Britain.
Fran Plowright
Founder & Curator
Our Team

Website Manager and Commmunications Consultant
Kimberley Nyamhondera
Kimberley Nyamhondera is the Meet a Mentor Website Manager and Communications Consultant. She helps oversee the program's operations and manages the website. As one of the first mentees of Meet a Mentor, Kimberley has worked closely with Fran since its inception.
In her day job, Kimberley is part of a dynamic PR and Communications team at a leading publishing company. She has extensive experience managing PR campaigns for literary fiction and non-fiction, with a strong connection to London’s cultural scene. Notably, she has worked on titles across genres such as nature, science, smart-thinking, and memoir.

Our Values
Meet a Mentor offers a nurturing environment where mentees receive guidance and encouragement. Mentors provide personalised support to help participants achieve their career goals and overcome challenges.
Support
Meet a Mentor is committed to diversity, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued. We actively seek to support underrepresented groups in the creative industries, creating a welcoming space for everyone.
Inclusivity
We motivate young creatives by showcasing success stories and providing access to inspirational mentors. We create an environment where participants are encouraged to dream big and
pursue their ambitions.
Inspiration
Meet a Mentor fosters genuine relationships built on trust and honesty. We aim to ensure that every interaction is sincere and meaningful, promoting a real sense of community.
Authenticity
About Us
Meet a Mentor is a mentoring programme for emerging talent. We support 18-30 year olds to enter and progress in the creative and digital sector by pairing them with experienced mentors.
Founded in 2016, we have paired businesses with underrepresented talent, enabling hundreds of young creatives to carve out successful careers and bring fresh perspectives, problem-solving skills and digital knowhow to the sector.