Retail Week is launching a Be Inspired mentoring competition, giving applicants the chance to win a year’s mentoring with a c-suite retailer.

Applicants can win a year’s one-to-one mentoring with Be Inspired ambassadors Madeleine Melson, chief customer office at Amara; Jill Ross, retail managing director at Accenture; Rob Feldman, chief executive at BrandAlley; Suzanne Harlow, group trading director at Debenhams and Google lifestyle retail director Alison Lomax.

A complimentary place on a transformational development programme with Be Inspired’s learning and development partner The Pragma Group can also be won.

Winners will be revealed at this year’s Be Inspired conference on November 14th.

Accenture’s Ross said: “It is vitally important that the emerging female talent in our industry has the opportunity to develop both the skills and confidence to progress into senior leadership roles in the future.

“I have found an external influence to be extremely helpful in my own career, and so I am delighted to offer my support to the Be Inspired initiative by becoming a mentor.”

Retail Week commercial content director Charlotte Hardie said: “Mentoring is one of the key goals of the Be Inspired initiative. Our aim is to provide women access to high-profile role models in the sector - both female and male - who can help guide them throughout their careers, encouraging them to have ambition and passion for their roles and the sector.”

Click here to find out more

How to enter

In order to win one of these coveted opportunities please tell us in no more than 300 words or a two minute video, how having a mentor could take you to the next level in your retail career.

  • Why are you passionate about retail?
  • What would you like to gain from your mentor?
  • What KPIs would you set yourself over the next year?

Please note that you must be in a current retail role to qualify for this competition.

Submit your entry along with your name, job title and company name to Hannah.Burnel@Retail-Week.com

Competition closes on October 31.

Be Inspired aims to champion women leaders in retail by recruiting prominent retail leaders, both male and female, as ambassadors.

There are now more than 50 Be Inspired ambassadors, with many of the most senior figures in retail such as John Lewis managing director Paula Nickolds and M&S boss Steve Rowe signing up to support the campaign.

Be Inspired’s biggest-ever conference is taking place on Tuesday, November 14 at 200 Aldersgate. Speakers include Ikea’s UK and Ireland manager Gillian Drakeford and Boots UK managing director Elizabeth Fagan.