Advance — The mentoring programme designed by women in transport for women in transport
Our Advance mentoring programme is structured to address the needs of professional women in transport seeking to develop and progress their career.
The programme has supported more than 450 mentees and mentors to date. It is designed by Sonya Byers, our Chief Executive, and Angela Gainsford, a longstanding member of Women in Transport, and is delivered by Angela Gainsford and Steve Griffiths, our Events & Professional Development Lead.
APPLICATIONS FOR ADVANCE 2026 ARE NOW CLOSED!
If you applied for a place on Advance 2026, you will be contacted by 6th November to advise if you have been successful.
The Women in Transport Advance mentoring programme runs virtually, including training sessions, one-to-one mentoring and engagement sessions.
There are 45 places available for Advance 2026.
Eligibility for Advance 2026
Mentors: Any manager level or above, regardless of gender, who currently works in or is affiliated with the transport sector can apply to be a mentor for Advance. You must be a member of Women in Transport throughout the programme year and be prepared to offer six one-hour sessions to your mentee between January and September 2026. New mentors who have not previously mentored for the Advance programme must attend a training session in November 2025.
Mentees: Any member of Women in Transport who identifies as a woman can apply to be a mentee on Advance. You must be a member of Women in Transport throughout the programme year, be prepared to commit to the mentoring relationship and attend the training session in November 2025. You will need to dedicate time to prepare for meetings and meet your mentor who will be gifting their time and experience to support you.
Being a Mentor
The role of a mentor is to provide a safe environment for their mentee to determine their personal and professional priorities and support the development of solutions to particular issues. The process will include adapting your personal style to empathise with your mentee, providing guidance without becoming personally involved and encouraging self-awareness and self-confidence through your experience and support. Being a mentor can help you see the world from a different point of view and provide access to a wider network of professionals.
Being a Mentee
As a mentee, it is your role to drive the mentoring relationship by identifying the objective and the level and nature of the advice and support that you are seeking from your mentor. Be prepared to be challenged, listen and be listened to and be open to new ideas. The relationship is intended to empower you to develop your self-confidence and progress your career in the direction `you choose whilst helping you grow your professional network.
Programme outline: Advance 2026
Mentoring has the potential to be a powerful personal development and empowerment tool. It is a reciprocal partnership between two people, normally working in a similar field or sharing similar experiences, based upon mutual trust and respect.
Mentoring allows the mentee to explore new ideas in a safe environment. It is an opportunity for learning and development for both the mentee and mentor. The process is about developing greater self-awareness and taking responsibility for the direction of your career.
Advance has been featured in the Get It: Gender Equality Toolkit In Transport, which you can find here.
Stage 1 — Application: October 2025
Complete the application questionnaire to be a mentor or mentee. You will need to complete the questionnaire and attend the training session to qualify for the programme. We cannot guarantee that you will be successfully matched as this will depend on the number of applications and our ability to match you based on the information you provide. Returning mentors do not have to attend the training.
Stage 2 — Training: November 2025
Mentors and mentees will be invited to one virtual training session via Zoom with Angela and Steve. Training is compulsory for mentees and for new mentors to qualify for the programme and is part of the pairing process. In this interactive workshop, we will help you prepare for your mentoring relationship, share insights from previous cohorts, go through the toolkit and answer your questions.
During the application, you can select your preferred training date so please save the dates you select in your diary.
New Mentor Sessions
Tuesday 18 November 2025 - 13:15 - 15:30
Thursday 20 November 2025 - 13:15 - 15:30
Wednesday 26 November 2025 - 13:15 - 15:30
Mentee Sessions
Tuesday 18 November 2025 - 10:00 - 12:15
Thursday 20 November 2025 - 10:00 - 12:15
Wednesday 26 November 2025 - 10:00 - 12:15
Stage 2 — Training: November 2025
Mentors and mentees will be invited to one virtual training session via Zoom with Angela and Steve. Training is compulsory for mentees and for new mentors to qualify for the programme and is part of the pairing process. In this interactive workshop, we will help you prepare for your mentoring relationship, share insights from previous cohorts, go through the toolkit and answer your questions.
During the application, you can select your preferred training date so please save the dates you select in your diary.
New Mentor Sessions
Tuesday 18 November 2025 - 13:15 - 15:30
Thursday 20 November 2025 - 13:15 - 15:30
Wednesday 26 November 2025 - 13:15 - 15:30
Mentee Sessions
Tuesday 18 November 2025 - 10:00 - 12:15
Thursday 20 November 2025 - 10:00 - 12:15
Wednesday 26 November 2025 - 10:00 - 12:15
Stage 3 — Matching: November 2025
Angela and Steve will pro-actively undertake the screening process to pair suitable mentors and mentees. You may be matched with a man or a woman. We always try to match outside of your organisation.
Our aim is to match you with an individual who can support your specific objectives so they may be someone outside of your field of expertise.
Our matching for 2024 was scored 9/10 (10 being excellent) by both mentees and mentors.
Stage 4 — Mentoring: January - September 2026
All pairs will receive an email after the training confirming their match and as an introduction to each other. We ask our mentors to commit to providing six, one-hour sessions between January and September 2026. In practice, some pairs will not use all six sessions and others may decide to meet more frequently. This would be agreed between the individual pairs after being introduced. There is no obligation on our volunteer mentors to offer more than six sessions.
Stage 5 — Engagement: December 2025 - September 2026
We are committed to supporting you in establishing and maintaining a positive mentoring relationship. Mentor and mentee engagement during the programme provides a forum for peer-to-peer networking, sharing and support.
Marina Garyfalou and Natalia Martins were Advance mentees in 2022 and now volunteer their time as Mentee Engagement Leads. There will be an optional WhatsApp group for mentees to help you stay connected during the programme.
Cecilia Harvey, an experienced Advance mentor and coach, with a background in Social Anthropology and whose DEI consultancy business focuses on personal growth, collaborations and communication through knowledge sharing, will undertake the role as Mentor Engagement Lead.
There will be three peer-to-peer engagement sessions. These informal sessions facilitated by the Engagement Leads provide networking and have the following purpose:
December 2025: Opportunity to go through the toolkit and agreement in more detail, ask for advice and share experience ahead of your first mentoring session
April 2026: Gathering your feedback at the mid-point of the programme, assess and reflect on your progress and plans for making the most of your final sessions
September 2026: Capturing your feedback at the end of programme, reflecting on your experience and discussing how you are closing out your mentoring relationship
It is not compulsory to attend these sessions, but we have found that mentees and mentors greatly appreciate these opportunities to network, connect and share experiences.
As a Women in Transport member, you will also benefit from plenty of opportunities to network in person and virtually with the wider membership community and we encourage you to be an active member to grow your network and skills.
Stage 6 — Review
An online survey will be sent to all mentees and mentors in April and September 2026 to gather feedback. This feedback is invaluable in supporting the continuous improvement of the programme.
What our alumni say
“From our very first meeting, my mentor made me feel truly welcomed, heard, and inspired. Her warmth and insight created a safe space where I could reflect, grow, and challenge my thinking in a positive way. She has a remarkable ability to help me see things from new perspectives, exactly what I need at times to be able to move forward with clarity and confidence.
When an opportunity arose to apply for a fixed-term position, her encouragement and belief in me gave me the confidence to go for it. I was successful in my application! Her genuine excitement for my achievement meant so much.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the mentoring experience and feel incredibly grateful to have been given this opportunity. My mentor’s support has made a real difference in my journey, and I would wholeheartedly recommend mentorship through Women in Transport to anyone looking to grow both personally and professionally”
“I became an Advance Mentor because I wanted to support women in a way that hadn’t been available to me when I started my career in transport many years ago, and which I came to realise would have made some of my professional and personal challenges feel much less lonely moments.
The Advance mentoring programme has given me that opportunity and so much more. Now completing my fifth year as a mentor not only have I enjoyed working with women from different transport modes who have been at different stages in their working life it has given me the chance to continue to grow and develop my own skills and knowledge, and of course to grow my network of support, as mentoring is a two way activity.
Each mentoring partnership has been rewarding in unique ways and I am truly energised by my remarkable mentees for their achievements and continuing aspirations. As a mentor there is nothing like the feeling you get when a mentee says they have found clarity and a way forward when previously they had felt stuck or unsure, whether with an operational or relationship challenge or for career planning and next step actions.”
“The Advance Mentoring Scheme provided a structured mentor-mentee relationship with clear goals, timelines, and planned outcomes — a very different experience from my previous informal mentoring interactions. This formal framework helped focus our conversations, with the mentoring agreement and initial briefing session guiding the process effectively. It also gave me the chance to deeply consider what kind of engagement and actions would be most valuable at this stage of my career.
At the time, I was transitioning between jobs, so the advice and discussions with my mentor centered on clarifying my goals, shaping my professional identity, and navigating boundaries in a new environment. Many of these needs were evolving, so having a mentor flexible enough to adapt as my situation changed was invaluable.
Since I controlled the topics we discussed, it encouraged me to prioritise areas where I truly needed an external perspective. As trust grew, I felt comfortable bringing up issues I might otherwise have avoided — whether due to reputational concerns or workplace power dynamics. Our conversations offered space to reflect, reassess, and often confirmed my approach or suggested alternative strategies.
Honestly, I found the experience incredibly clarifying and productive. I would recommend this scheme to anyone who wants to thoughtfully identify where they need support — and then ask for it”
“I joined the Women in Transport mentoring programme, Advance, with the aim of improving my interview skills, building confidence by becoming more aware of my strengths and abilities, preparing for leadership roles, and exploring a new career direction. I also wanted to gain a clearer understanding of interview questions and how to respond to them effectively.
Over the course of the mentoring relationship, I encountered a workplace conflict that required careful resolution. My mentor, who is an expert in conflict management, was amazing and provided invaluable guidance and support throughout the process. Thanks to his advice, I was able to take the right steps, and the issue was ultimately resolved in my favour. This experience has significantly boosted my confidence in my own knowledge, skills, and decision-making.
I’ve also gained a deeper understanding of leadership, particularly the different forms it can take. For example, I hadn’t previously recognised my experience managing a large team through matrix management as leadership. My mentor helped me see that this type of leadership can be even more demanding than traditional line management, which was a powerful realisation as I tend to focus or minute details rather than the big picture.
In addition to the mentoring sessions, my mentor kindly introduced me to a recruiter who provided me with helpful advice on improving my CV and provide some advice with exploring my career options. This added another layer of support and insight that I found incredibly valuable.
Through our sessions, I’ve learned to appreciate myself more and recognise the value I bring. I now have a better grasp of what interviewers are really asking and how to tailor my responses to highlight my strengths.
Overall, the mentoring programme has been a truly positive and transformative experience. I’m grateful for the opportunity and for the support and insight my mentor provided throughout.”
Programme leads
Angela Gainsford
Angela is an independent consultant with over 30 years' experience in project, change management and operational transport roles.
A mentor with senior management experience, Angela’s diverse career and skillset includes HR, team management and stakeholder engagement.
Angela is a long-standing member of Women in Transport who co-designed and continues to deliver the Advance mentoring programme. She is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
Steve Griffiths
Steve is the Events & Professional Development Lead at Women in Transport. He is also an Executive Coach (an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation).
Steve spent 35+ years as a senior leader in the transport industry, working for both public sector and private sector businesses.
Steve is also a coach on our Lead programme and a STEM ambassador, seeking to encourage more young women into careers in transport, construction and the built environment.
Engagement leads
Our sponsors
Our annual Advance mentoring programme has been made possible by the invaluable support of our corporate partners. It is thanks to their generosity that the programme remains accessible for all members of Women in Transport. We are delighted that many of our sponsors return year on year to support the programme but we are equally delighted when new sponsors come in as has happened this year.
Turner & Townsend is a multinational professional services company headquartered in the United Kingdom specialising in programme management, project management, cost management and consulting across the transport, property, infrastructure and natural resources sectors.
TXM Group is a global organisation providing resourcing and consultancy solutions worldwide, specialising in Engineering, Healthcare, and Technology. Formed by Engineers, TXM Group works closely with leading industry clients to source and place the highest quality talent, as well as offer data-driven strategic development services led by a team of experienced project leaders.
Xanta is a rail engineering management consultancy specialising in rail and other guided systems, providing all aspects of rail technical management and delivery, engineering services, strategic organisational support and interim staff. Xanta has extensive experience with tram, light rail, metro, mainline and freight railways in the UK and abroad, and proven success at delivering projects, technical reports and investigations, bringing together consultant teams with the right skills and experience. Xanta assists its clients in getting the best out of transport assets and systems, improving performance and results, is on both the TfL Rail Engineering PSFW and the DfT STAR Two Frameworks.
Network for Skills is a small consultancy that provides services in the people and behaviour space. We believe that getting this “people bit” right is a key enabler for an organisation’s success and that it requires real focus. We provide executive mentoring and coaching for individual leaders and teams. We support organisations with team development and performance, diversity & inclusion and change & engagement. We work across both the private and public sectors with organisations of all sizes, directly or in partnership with others. We are suppliers to Transport for London, Train Operating Companies and National Rail; and outside transport, to companies in the education, logistics, pharma, and consultancy sectors. We are proud to be a member of Women in Transport, and to be associated with both the Advance and Lead programmes.
Camilleri Appointments is run by the Owner and Managing Director Karen Camilleri. The business specialises in senior level interim and permanent places across a range of sectors with a specialism across all modes of transport. Set up in 2019 they are growing rapidly in their reputation and reach. Delivering a positive experience to all users of the service is at the heart of their work.
Momentum Transport Consultancy is a leading integrated, people-first transport consultancy. The company creates transport strategies and solutions that inform, integrate with and are integral to, every aspect of the built environment today and for the future. The company’s three core areas of specialism are planning, insight & analytics and engineering.
Network Rail own, operate, maintain and develop the railway infrastructure in England, Scotland and Wales, and is a non-departmental public body of the Department for Transport.
They operate five regions: Eastern, North West & Central, Scotland’s Railway, Southern and Wales & Western and cover 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. They also manage 20 of the country’s largest stations.
Caledonian MacBrayne is the UK's largest ferry company, operating 33 vessels between 51 ports and slipways. It serves 25 destinations, from Arran in the south to the northern points of the Outer Hebrides.
Manchester Airports Group (MAG) is the UK’s largest airports group. Collectively, MAG owns and operates three UK airports – Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands – alongside digital travel services business, CAVU.
Last year 54m passengers flew through our airports, and we contributed more than £8bn to the UK economy. MAG directly employs 7,000 people and supports more than 40,000 jobs across the supply chain.
FM Conway prides itself on being an industry leader with 60 years’ experience and expertise in delivering essential transport and public realm projects across the UK. Driven by innovation and a deep commitment to sustainability, we lead the way in recycling, reuse, and research to build greener, more resilient infrastructure. Our culture of inclusion is central to our mission, guiding us to build a fairer and more diverse industry that empowers women and underrepresented groups to thrive. This is reinforced by our commitment to attain a 30% female workforce by 2030.
Mentoring guidance & advice
Find out more about Advance including alumni sharing their experiences and our tips for applying.
Information session with mentors and mentees about what you can gain from mentoring through the Advance programme.
A conversation with Gary Lincoln, TXM Group, Group Director sharing why supporting Women in Transport matters.
Advance 2020 alumni share their advice for making the most of your mentoring relationship.
Workshop delivered to TfL’s Women's Staff Network Group in 2019.
Latest Advance news & insights
