Mentoring Programme for the UK Battery Sector
We are launching a fully funded Mentor Training and Mentoring Programme for Women and Allies in the battery industries, designed to build connections across the UK’s battery supply chain.
Opportunity Details
When
Registration Opens
04/06/2025 00:00
Registration Closes
23/06/2025 23:59
Award
This initiative aims to support women and allies at all career stages by fostering professional development.
Organisation
Innovate UK Business Connect
As the UK accelerates towards net zero by 2050 and securing its cleaner energy future, batteries will play an essential in enabling decarbonisation across transport, energy storage, and manufacturing. The Government’s 2030 vision is for the UK to have a globally competitive battery supply chain that supports economic prosperity and the net zero transition. A thriving, innovative, and collaborative battery ecosystem is pivotal to realising this vision.
To help strengthen this ecosystem, we are launching a fully funded Mentoring Programme for Women in Batteries, designed to build connections across the battery supply chain—from materials and cell manufacturing to integration, end-of-life, and recycling. This initiative aims to support women and allies at all career stages by fostering professional development, boosting confidence, and creating meaningful, lasting networks within this rapidly evolving sector.
This programme is part of a wider effort to ensure that the UK battery innovation landscape is inclusive, connected, and equipped with the diverse leadership and talent needed to drive long-term success.
We are seeking to recruit both mentors and mentees from across the battery value chain, within UK industry. We welcome mentors of any gender working in batteries and mentees who are women/non-binary working in batteries.
The programme has two key strands: Mentor Training and Structured Mentoring Sessions.
A webinar with more information and Q&A was held on Monday 16 June: watch the recording below.
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Mentors must work in the UK battery sector e.g. materials/manufacturing, cells, packs, modules, battery integration, recycling/end-of-life, end-user (automotive or non-automotive)
Mentors can be any gender who have a desire to give back and support the next generation of leaders.
We welcome applicants from underrepresented groups, at all stages of their careers, seeking leadership and career development opportunities. Previous experience of mentoring is not required.
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Mentees must work in the UK battery sector e.g. materials/manufacturing, cells, packs, modules, battery integration, recycling/end-of-life, end-user (automotive or non-automotive)
Mentees must be individuals who identify as women or non-binary who are eager to advance in their careers and gain insight into leadership and innovation within their sector.
Participants will be carefully matched based on alignment of goals and expectations, ensuring a productive and supportive mentoring relationship. The time commitment for mentees is around 2 hours a month for each mentoring relationship from Sept 2025 to March 2026.
We welcome applicants from underrepresented groups, at all stages of their careers, seeking leadership and career development opportunities.
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A key aspect of this programme is ensuring mentors are supported and empowered to enable them to maximise their mentoring impact. The training is aimed at building confidence and a toolkit for new mentors whilst also providing those with previous mentor experience a fresh perspective and additional strategies.
The training will focus on:
- Guidance and support strategies: Providing frameworks for effective mentoring, including goal setting, feedback delivery, and problem-solving.
- Adaptive mentoring and coaching tools: Enhancing the mentor’s ability to understand and respond to the mentee’s needs.
- Continuous development: Mentors will be given resources and access to a support network to further their own professional development during and after the programme.
The time commitment is around 2 hours a month for each mentoring relationship from Sept 2025 to March 2026, with an additional time of around 6 – 8 hours for mentor training up front for mentors July – September 2025.
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- Discovery and Q&A webinar on Monday 16 June 12.30pm (see recording above or watch on Vimeo)
- Application deadline: 23:59 on 23 June 2025
- Mentors will be notified of outcome by end June 2025
- Mentor Training will start mid-July 2025
- Mentoring Meetings will run Sept 2025 – March 2026
- Programme completes end March 2026
Related programme
Cross-Sector Battery Systems Innovation Network
The Cross-Sector Battery Systems Innovation Network, co-founded by Innovate UK and the Faraday Battery Challenge, is a cross-sectoral and collaborative community of technology developers and end-users.