Over the past few weeks, we’ve been collecting mentoring schemes, and have decided to share them with you under various categories to make the list easier to digest – and find something that’s right for you.

In this first list, we’re sharing mentoring initiatives that can work casually, as more of a drop-in or one-off session, rather than a dedicated programme. This might work well for someone who is keen to test the waters with being mentored. The below have all been set up to function online and remote, and many of them are fully global.

We don’t have first-hand experience of all of them, so we can’t guarantee the level of quality for everything listed here; but we hope they can be helpful in seeing what’s out there. Keep an eye out for more recommendations in the coming weeks, when we’ll be sharing schemes with a focus on initiatives for female and non-binary creatives, and those from underrepresented backgrounds.

We’re also open to your suggestions if you feel we’ve missed something out; and do stay posted for schemes like this via our Opportunities Board.

Lunch Club

For: Open to all creatives
Discipline: Creative
Location: Global

An online-only global initiative, Lunch Club sets up “smart introductions to relevant people” with video meetings. The platform invites you to share your background, goals and interests, then each week, they offer up a new connection – all made possible through AI.

Find out more here.

Freestar Mentoring Hotline

For: Young people wanting to get into the creative industry
Discipline: Creative
Location: UK

It might be an alcohol-free beer brand, but the team behind Freestar are full of useful advice and knowledge and are inviting young people to join them every Friday afternoon, for half an hour with a follow-up via email or call. During the sessions, they promise support with everything from CV writing and applications to interview prep.

Find out more here.

Re:create

For: Open to all creatives
Discipline: Creative
Location: Global

An online platform connecting creatives at various levels, across many creative disciplines – promising help with breaking into the industry and honing skills.

Find out more here.

Pair Up

For: Open to all creatives
Discipline: Creative
Location: Global

This free online mentoring platform is for everyone, and offers up a solid database of creative professionals to connect with, working in everything from 3D, UX, branding, architecture, copywriting, motion, music, film and illustration.

Find out more here.

ADPList

For: Open to all designers
Discipline: Design
Location: Global

Not just open to entry-level or emerging creatives, this design-focused platform offers a database of over 650 mentors to browse by location, interests and discipline, with the promise of “a one-time mentoring session”.

Find out more here.