Thursday 27th October 2026
For the first time, we are bringing together the mentors who generously share their time, experience and expertise to support businesses across Portsmouth.
Organised to coincide with National Mentoring Day, Portsmouth Mentors Connect 2026 is a practical, supportive and celebratory event created to recognise our volunteer mentors, strengthen connections and help build a thriving mentor community across the city.
The event will provide an opportunity to meet fellow mentors, exchange experiences and practical ideas, explore the wellbeing aspects of mentoring and learn more about the support available to Portsmouth businesses.
Tea, coffee and pastries will be available on arrival. A light lunch will be provided towards the end of the event.
Places are limited to 30 attendees and advance registration is required.
What to expect
Portsmouth Mentors Connect has been designed to give mentors an opportunity to:
- Connect with fellow mentors and strengthen Portsmouth’s mentor community
- Exchange experiences, practical tips and good practice
- Learn more about the Portsmouth Business Support Service
- Understand the workshops, organisations and wider support available to their mentees
- Explore mentor wellbeing and maintaining healthy professional boundaries
- Discuss common mentoring challenges and learn from the experiences of others
- Contribute ideas for strengthening the programme and developing Portsmouth’s wider mentor community
- Build valuable relationships with programme partners and local business-support organisations
Programme highlights
The morning will include:
- A welcome and celebration of Portsmouth’s volunteer mentors
- An overview of the Portsmouth Business Support Service and how the mentoring programme works
- Information about the wider business support available through Portsmouth City Council and other local organisations
- A workshop partner spotlight to help mentors identify when additional support may be relevant to their mentees
- A practical session exploring mentor wellbeing and healthy professional boundaries
- Interactive discussions where mentors can share challenges, experiences, practical tips and good practice
- Informal networking over refreshments and lunch
Have your say
This will be an interactive event, and we want the experiences of our mentors to help shape the conversation.
On arrival, attendees will be invited to contribute to our Mentor Voices Wall by sharing:
- Why mentoring matters to them
- A mentoring topic or challenge they would value discussing
- A practical tip they wish they had known when they first became a mentor
These contributions will help inform the table discussions and capture useful insights for the future development of the programme.
Please do not include the names of mentees, businesses or any confidential or identifiable information.
Register to attend
We would be delighted to welcome you to our first Portsmouth Mentors Connect event.
Places are limited, so please complete the registration form to confirm your attendance.
If you register and can no longer attend, please let us know as soon as possible so that your place can be offered to another mentor.
Frequently asked questions
The event will take place in the Chairman’s Boardroom, located on the first floor of the South Stand, at Fratton Park, Portsmouth FC, Frogmore Road, Portsmouth, PO4 8RA. Delegates should use the Frogmore Road entrance to access the Boardroom.
Registration and refreshments will be available from 9:30am. The event will finish at approximately 1:00pm, including time for networking and a light lunch.
Yes. Free parking is available in Portsmouth FC’s main car park behind the North Stand. Spaces closest to the venue entrance will be reserved for event attendees, with additional parking available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The car park is approximately a five-minute walk from the Boardroom entrance.
Yes. Tea, coffee and pastries will be available on arrival, followed by a light lunch after the event.
No special equipment is required. We recommend bringing a notebook and any questions you’d like to discuss during the event.
Please note that the Boardroom is located on the first floor of the South Stand and there is currently no stair-free access available. Delegates with accessibility requirements should please let us know in advance so we can discuss possible support options.
The event is designed for a maximum of 30 attendees, creating a more interactive and engaging experience.
Yes. Time has been built into the agenda after the main session for attendees to enjoy lunch and network with fellow delegates.
Please contact the Shaping Portsmouth team and we will be happy to help with any questions ahead of the day.
As places are limited, please let us know as soon as possible if you can no longer attend so that we can offer your place to someone on the waiting list.
Please contact the organisers before the event if you would like to transfer your booking to another member of your organisation.
Photography and filming may take place during the event for Shaping Portsmouth’s communications and promotional activities. Please let the event team know when registering or on arrival if you do not wish to be photographed or filmed.
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