Future of GM’s growing pool of mentors share valuable insight with our Leadership and Diverse Voices networks – and gain fresh perspectives in return.
We have a fantastic family of cross-sector mentors – you can see the Spring 2026 cohort below, all supporting Leaders Plus 7, Future Leaders 4 or the GM Regeneration Skills Academy pilot, and you can find bios for current Leaders Plus mentors here and Future Leaders mentors here.
As we grow, we continue to build this key ingredient of the GM place leadership landscape, including as a development opportunity for our alumni. Thank you all!
Will you join us?
We offer mentoring options from ad-hoc support to nine-month senior leadership courses; the chance to develop your own skills and/or support diverse talent; plus events where you can connect with other mentors, candidates, alumni and Future of GM leadership – why wouldn’t you get involved?
How Future of GM mentoring differs – and what you get out of it!
- You’re paired with someone from another organisation and often from another sector, based on their needs
- On Leaders programmes, you meet mentees every four to six weeks through the 6- or 9-month course (you can continue if you like!)
- We have mid- and senior-level courses, so can match a range of people from your organisation; mentoring is development too – who on your team might benefit?
- You get the same CEO-level leadership materials as your mentees, for your meetings and for your own and your team’s development
- We also offer offer ad hoc mentoring as part of our Diverse Voices network: you can help coach at our events, and/or support an individual with specific or general needs on a drop-in basis.
- By way of thanks, we offer popular biannual mentor dinners capped at 45 guests, with a provocative scene-setter, delicious food and convivial conversation with cross-sector peers. Hatch and PA Consulting kindly hosted the first four; the next are open!
- We actively seek mentees and mentors from under-represented backgrounds – this is a great way to develop people who might not have had much profile yet!
Every sector has its own way of doing things, so it’s good to hear different views, to understand the different challenges people face and to share how to overcome them. Networking is also part of mentoring with Future of GM; it’s part and parcel of placemaking, and provides that hive mind I don’t think you necessarily get in other ways. You also get different public-private conversations, because people are a bit more vulnerable and bit more real in a mentoring context.
Debra Cooper – Finance & Banking Partner, Hill Dickinson
Future of GM Mentor awards, supported by Rider Levett Bucknall
To celebrate this critical contribution, we invited mentees to nominate mentors who’ve made a difference to them. We started with single winners in 2021, but opened that up to recognise everyone who mentees nominate. The awards have been graciously hosted by Rider Levett Bucknall, most recently as part of our 2025 Summer Party – they now alternate with alumni awards. Thanks to all!
- 2025 nominees: Debra Cooper – Banking Partner, Hill Dickinson; Chris Cheap – Principal & Managing Director Transactions, Avison Young; Paul Gibbons – CEO, Decipher group; Kim Grieveson – Principal, Avison Young; John Herring – Director of Organisational Development & Culture, NHS GM; Max King – Project Director NW, Muse; John Lumley – Director of Corporate Projects, L&Q; Chithra Marsh – Director, Buttress Architects; Paul Richards – Deputy Chief Executive & Director of Place, Stockport Council.
- 2023 Winner: Paul Richards – Managing Director, Stockport MDC
- 2021 Winner: Jane Healey Brown – Director, Town Planning, Arup
For info on the next awards, sign up to our mailing list or follow Future of Greater Manchester on LinkedIn.
Get involved!
- If you’re interested in becoming a mentor, email Collette Hayton.
- If you’re interested in hosting or supporting the network, email Lisa Taylor.
Recent Events
July 1 – Summer Celebration + Alumni Awards
Our summer celebration brought the network together. Alongside recognising our alumni award winners, we heard from bursary recipients on the vital role of the voluntary and community sector in shaping better places. Congratulations to our award winners, recognised for their leadership in Inclusive Growth, Impact, Collaboration, Climate & Resilience and Innovation. Their work is creating stronger communities, more sustainable places and better outcomes across Greater Manchester. See more.
May 13 – Mentor Dinner: How do we help people and places feel safe(r) in such volatile times?
Caroline Field, partner at event sponsor PA Consulting, led an insightful discussion to our full house of mentors at new venue Elnecot in May. Coming just before UKREiiF, this was timely chance to make new friends, share thought leadership with an influential audience & have a lovely meal with our brilliant volunteers. See the write-up here.
For details on our events and for early invitations, join our mailing list.