Mentoring and Professional Development
This project will appeal to businesses in the hospitality, tourism and events sector who would like to mentor an individual student on a live business challenge as their capstone project.
Module
Independent Applied Study
Duration
February - May
Student expertise (level of study)
Final-year undergraduates
Tackling industry challenges through mentoring
Final-year undergraduate students have an opportunity to work one-on-one with industry mentors on live business challenges. Students are matched with professionals in hospitality, tourism or events to complete a focused, research-driven project that supports the business while helping students develop their career-readiness.
This project is the capstone to students’ professional development journey—bringing together leadership, reflection, and applied learning.
How it works
Each student is assigned a mentor who sets a live business brief—a current issue or area for development within their organisation. Projects might include:
- Improving guest satisfaction
- Enhancing operational efficiency
- Exploring sustainability strategies
- Analysing employee engagement or turnover.
Students meet with their mentors at key points during the term, undertake independent research, and submit a comprehensive business report offering practical, data-informed recommendations.
It’s like having a mini-consultant with fresh ideas and a university’s support framework.Industry mentor, boutique hotel chain
Why get involved
By mentoring a student, your business gains:
- A structured report addressing a real issue you choose
- New insights grounded in academic research and market analysis
- Opportunities to identify and connect with future talent
- Involvement in shaping the next generation of hospitality professionals.
This is a high-impact, low-resource opportunity for organisations to explore a priority area while contributing to education and industry-academic collaboration.
A collaborative model that works
Our B-Clinic offers you:
- A clearly defined project scope tailored to your business
- Committed student mentees backed by academic supervision
- A chance to mentor and give back to the industry
- Flexibility to engage as fits your schedule.
Our students bring enthusiasm, innovation, and a professional mindset to the table—helping you see challenges in a new light.
Mentoring gave us valuable ideas—and the process was smooth and rewarding.Mentor, resort operations manager
What we need from your company
- Your input shapes the project: We ask for you to collaborate to set up the live business challenge.
- Active engagement: A stakeholder should be available to mentor the student throughout the project.
- Information sharing: A willingness to share relevant information needed to develop the project.
Get in touch today
If you’re a business looking to collaborate with developing student talent and receive tailored insights into your own industry challenges, please contact us. The B-Clinic at Surrey Business School is your opportunity to gain practical solutions while shaping the next generation of business leaders.