Welcome to Mentoring
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Surgical Mentoring Scheme connects surgeons seeking mentorship with a diverse group of trained surgical mentors from across the UK.
The scheme is designed to support surgeons navigating periods of transition, such as taking on a new role, moving into leadership, or approaching retirement. It helps participants unravel their potential and support their professional development at key stages in their surgical careers.
Access the Mentoring Platform
Register for the scheme or log in to the online mentoring platform.
What is Mentoring
Mentoring is a learning relationship in which a skilled individual, the mentor, supports and guides the personal and professional growth of another person, the mentee.
Mentors assist mentees in managing immediate challenges while also helping them take a longer-term view to achieve their full potential. Mentors guide mentees in deciding what they want to achieve and the actions needed to reach those goals, empowering them to make lasting changes. Ultimately, it is the mentee who chooses the best course of action, with the mentor providing support and guidance throughout the process.
Formal mentoring is recommended by the GMC in Good Medical Practice. In their Mentoring toolkit for organisations launched in August 2024, they highlight that it brings benefits to mentees, mentors, and the organisations they work for.
Effective mentoring offers a psychologically safe and confidential space to discuss opportunities or dilemmas. It is not only for use in times of crisis; mentoring is a valuable tool for all professionals, including those excelling in their fields, to explore and navigate new opportunities throughout their careers.
The RCSEd Surgical Mentoring Scheme has been developed with this philosophy in mind, aiming to support the professional development of its members and helping them unravel their full potential.
Benefits for Mentees
There are many great benefits of joining as a mentee. Mentoring can help you to:
Gain a confidential, supportive space to reflect openly on your career, experiences and aspirations.
Develop greater clarity about your goals, priorities and the next steps that are right for you.
Explore challenges, opportunities and career transitions with an experienced surgical colleague who is independent of your immediate workplace.
Strengthen your confidence, self-awareness and ability to make informed decisions for yourself.
Broaden your perspective and recognise possibilities for development, contribution and progression that may otherwise be difficult to see.
“I feel far more inspired and centred. I have had the opportunity to reflect on my personality/strengths and I have found this rewarding.” – RCSEd Mentee
RCSEd Mentee Feedback
How Does Our Mentoring Scheme Work
Our online mentoring platform supports the scheme, making it easy for mentees to find, connect, and communicate with mentors.
Once mentees register and create their profiles, they can search for mentors who align with their specific needs. Mentees can ask potential mentors questions before sending them a mentoring request. Mentors can choose to accept or decline requests from mentees and can switch their availability for mentoring on and off.
The platform supports mentees and mentors through every step of their mentoring journey and is packed with videos, written guidance, and useful checklists. Features include tools for scheduling meetings, setting agendas, recording notes, and defining goals. Additionally, it offers a built-in video chat tool allowing virtual meetings to be conducted directly within the platform.
What is Surgical Mentoring?
Emma Stapleton (RCSEd Lead for Mentoring) and Lisa Hadfield-Law tell you all you need to know about the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh's mentoring scheme, emphasising the importance of defining mentoring distinctly from coaching and other forms of support.
Who Can Join the Scheme
To join the scheme as a mentee, you must:
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- Be an RCSEd Fellow or Member
- Be a Surgical Trainee (ST6 to ST8), Consultant Surgeon, or in an equivalent role
- Be based in the UK
Please note: Mentee places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. As the scheme grows, the eligibility criteria will expand, enabling a wider range of RCSEd Members and Fellows to benefit.
To join the scheme as a mentor, you must:
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- Be an RCSEd Fellow or Member
- Be a practising or retired Consultant Surgeon, Specialist and Associate Specialist (SAS) Doctor, or senior clinician in an equivalent role
- Be based in the UK
- Have completed the RCSEd Mentor Development Programme
If you have not yet completed the RCSEd Mentor Development Programme but are interested in becoming a mentor, you can find more information about the course here.
Guidance on Training or Working in the UK
The RCSEd Mentoring Scheme is designed to support surgeons at key career transition points, such as taking on a new role, moving into leadership, or approaching retirement. It is not intended as a platform to provide guidance on training or working in the UK, how to gain sponsorship, or available research opportunities.
If you are interested in discussing these areas, we recommend contacting the International Postgraduate Deanery in the first instance. Full details can be found on the International Postgraduate Deanery webpage.
Ready to Join
If you meet the eligibility criteria and would like to join the scheme, follow the steps below. Mentee places are limited, so please only register if you are ready to participate in a mentoring relationship.
- Update your RCSEd profile: Log in using your existing RCSEd account details and verify that your Email Address, Discipline, Specialty, Grade, GMC Number, and Correspondence Address are all correct, as these details are required for our eligibility checks.
- Register on our online mentoring platform: Log in to the online mentoring platform using your existing RCSEd account and select “I want to be a Mentee” during registration. We will review your application to ensure you meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria.
- Complete your mentee profile: Once approved, you will be asked to complete your mentee profile. This profile is crucial for the matching process, so provide as much information as possible.
- Match with a mentor: You can now search for and match with a mentor.
- Update your RCSEd profile: Log in using your existing RCSEd account details and verify that your Email Address, Discipline, Specialty, Grade, GMC Number, and Correspondence Address are all correct, as these details are required for our eligibility checks.
- Register on our online mentoring platform: Log in to the online mentoring platform using your existing RCSEd account and select “I want to be a Mentor” during registration. We will review your application to ensure you meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria.
- Complete your mentor profile: Once approved, you will be asked to complete your mentor profile. Providing comprehensive information helps potential mentees determine if you’re the right match for them.
- Match with a mentee: Upon creating your profile you’ll be available for matching with mentees.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the scheme, please contact us at: mentoring@rcsed.ac.uk