Now in its third year, Level Up with NOWIE is a 6-month mentorship program designed to connect women in the early to mid-stages of their events careers with experienced professionals in their chosen specialism.

The programme will encourage the sharing of skills, guidance and opportunities for growth as well as the chance for mentees to grow their network. Anyone with a minimum of 3 years of experience can become a mentee and we’re keen to encourage applications from women who are either employed, self-employed, or running their own business.

Level Up mentors will act as trusted experts in their field to help guide mentees towards achieving specific goals - increasing their impact, confidence, and success within the industry.

Previous mentors include Katie Hester – Accessibility expert at Live Nation, Festival Republic and Pride in London, Sarah Slater - Vice President Music and Festivals at Ticketmaster, Sian Bennett – Strategy Director at Mustard Media, Megan Kieran – Director of Live at US Experiential, and Laura Armstrong - Senior Project Manager at LS Events.

We’re looking for women who have at least 10 years of experience in the events industry, ideally at a mid to senior level, with roles that involve team management, project oversight, or strategic contributions.
Special encouragement for mentors from non-traditional paths, underrepresented backgrounds, or those returning to the industry, working at a senior level within the events industry who are keen to support a woman working in the early-mid stage of her career to Level Up.

Location and Time Requirements:

• Must be UK or EU based and must be  primarily working within the UK events industry.

• Availability: Mentors must be available for remote sessions, with the option for face-to-face meetings where possible. 

Open to New and Past Mentors:

• Encouraging Previous Mentors: Those who have previously mentored in this programme are encouraged to apply.

Gender Inclusivity:

• Women-Only Mentors: The programme is open to mentors who identify as women, including cisgender, trans, and non-binary individuals who are comfortable being grouped under the term “women” and  identify with issues that predominantly affect women.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I):

• Commitment to Diversity: We actively encourage applications from mentors of diverse backgrounds, ages, and races to create an inclusive mentorship environment.

• Sector-Specific “Non Traditional Roles” Representation: Mentors from technical, creative, artist management, security, licensing, and other non-traditional areas are especially encouraged to apply, as spaces are capped across sectors to ensure diversity in representation.

Where Possible, Access Needs Awareness:

• Inclusive Mentorship: Mentors are encouraged to support mentees with any disclosed access needs and work together to create an accommodating mentorship experience - support can be given when needed. 

Your Access Needs:

To ensure we are aware of and able to support any accommodations you may need, applicants are encouraged to disclose any access needs as part of their application. While this is optional, it’s available for those who wish to share.

If we can do anything else to help this be more inclusive and accessible, please let us know at hello@nowielevelup.com.

As a Community Interest Company (CIC), we rely on the generosity of our mentors. While we greatly value your time and expertise, this program operates on a voluntary basis, and we are unable to offer financial reimbursement for your time. Your contribution is essential to making this initiative a success and helping to support the next generation of industry professionals.

• Applications open now.

• Applications close on the 6th December.

• You’ll find out if you are successful by the 13th December.

• If you are matched successfully, the online launch is on the 16th December.

• The programme runs for 6 months, from Mid-December 2024 to Mid-June 2025.

Pre January Suitability Calls:

• Compatibility Assessment: Mentors must be available for 1-2 suitability calls before the end of December to assess compatibility with potential mentees.

• Scheduling: You’ll also be expected to schedule your first meeting to happen by the end of the third week of January

The whole programme:

• Time Commitment: The programme requires a 15–25 hour commitment over six months, including regular mentoring sessions and monthly check-ins.

• Group Engagement: Mentors should be prepared to engage in the programme’s WhatsApp group, Instagram, or email as requested for updates and programme information.

Marketing Engagement:

• Programme Visibility: Be willing to engage in the programme launch and send us your headshots/socials to tag – if there is a safeguarding reason you cannot do this, let us know.

• Social Media and Engagement Dates: Participation in programme launch activities is encouraged, and mentors should be available to share updates as needed.

Milestone Sharing: Complete the mentee milestones and, ideally, as many times as feasible

This is up for you to decide with your mentor / mentee. If you live locally to each other, we’d love you to have the opportunity to meet in person, but if you’re a little further afield, online meetings might be the one for you!

We’re working on exciting plans to host an in-person launch & networking event for all mentors and mentees in January—more info will be shared once matches have been finalised.

We’ve prepared a comprehensive workbook and reflection journal to guide your sessions. Some activities are mandatory for mentees, while others allow flexibility, letting you and your mentee decide how deeply to explore them based on their needs and goals.

You’ll also have access to helpful resources and conversation starters to support your discussions.

Monthly topics include:

• Goal-setting

• Confidence building and personal branding

• Practical skills for progression

• Finances and negotiation

• Work/life balance

• Creating a long-term action plan for your career

By filling in the application form below!

We expect there to be a really high demand for Level Up, so we cannot guarantee that we will be able to match everyone.

If you’re not successfully matched to a mentee, don’t panic! Here at NOWIE, we have lots of in-person networking events and work with other events where you’ll have the chance to meet other women and share your insights and knowledge.