My journey into business mentoring has been shaped not just by experience, but by the impact of ILM qualifications on my professional development. My route wasn’t linear, and that’s exactly why I care so deeply about doing it well.
I spent many years working in HR, often informally coaching line managers and board members through complex people issues: performance, confidence, conflict, change. Long before I had a coaching qualification, I was already having the kinds of conversations that help people think differently and act more effectively.
I later trained as a coach via the Master NLP Practitioner route and went on to work for myself as a life and career coach. It was rewarding work, but my learning didn’t stop there.
I then stepped into hospitality – very much the deep end. Running a business in that sector was intense, practical, and humbling. Looking back, I often say that what I needed most at that point wasn’t another course or framework, but a skilled mentor. Someone to help me think, not tell me what to do.
When I eventually exited hospitality, I decided to volunteer as a mentor on the Help to Grow: Management Programme. That decision changed the direction of my work.
Through the Help to Grow: Management Programme, I had the opportunity to study for my ILM Level 7 in Executive Coaching and Mentoring. The qualification didn’t just add letters after my name – it fundamentally shifted my confidence and capability. It gave me the structure, ethics, and professional grounding to move from coaching into business mentoring, with clarity about boundaries, purpose, and impact.
One of the most powerful parts of that experience was the cohort itself. Learning alongside other experienced professionals, challenging one another, and building relationships that have lasted well beyond the programme. Some of us still meet for peer supervision, support, and encouragement – exactly the kind of professional community I believe good mentoring thrives on.
So when I later saw the opportunity to apply for the role of Principal Trainer at the Association of Business Mentors – with a remit to set up a new in-house training centre – I knew I had to apply. I wanted to help create high-quality, ILM-accredited programmes that genuinely support mentors to grow their skills, confidence, and professional judgement.
In my journey with ABM, I’ve led on ILM accreditation and worked with a brilliant team to design and deliver our first cohorts, achieving strong outcomes and excellent feedback. As the Training Centre developed, I was promoted to Head of the Training Centre, reflecting both the growth of the provision and my commitment to maintaining high standards.
Seeing learners grow in confidence and capability has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.
Graduating myself was also unexpectedly meaningful. I hadn’t attended my BSc Psychology graduation years earlier, following the death of my father – the one person I most wanted to share that moment with. Graduating this time, with my daughter present, was incredibly special.
Today, I’m proud to say we are launching Cohort 3 of our ILM Level 5 and Level 7 Coaching & Mentoring programmes, which we train very much with a business mentoring lens.
These courses are designed for people who want more than a qualification. They are for professionals who care about ethical practice, thoughtful challenge, reflective learning, and doing this work properly. For business mentors like you!
Find out more on our ILM courses here and if you have any questions, please contact us at training@associationofbusinessmentors.org
