Inspiring future female leaders

Women in business across Exeter are being invited to take part in an initiative that's already inspiring real change.

The Empowering Girls Programme, now in its sixth year, pairs mentors with secondary school students with the aim of building confidence, expanding aspirations, and breaking down gender stereotypes surrounding future careers.

Over the past year, more than 140 girls across 14 schools in Exeter, Plymouth, and Torbay have benefitted from one-to-one mentoring. As demand rises, the programme urgently needs new mentors from Exeter’s business community.

Mentors commit to six one-on-one sessions per term. No prior experience is necessary, just a willingness to listen, share personal insights, and support a young person’s journey.

The benefits extend both ways with mentors reporting improved coaching and leadership skills, stronger networks, and greater confidence, all while making a meaningful community contribution.

One mentor reflected: “It was so rewarding to see my mentee become more confident each session. When she said, ‘I believe in myself,’ it made me proud and I grew too.”

This initiative is especially vital when placed against the broader landscape of women in UK business. As of 2025, women hold around 43 percent of board seats in FTSE 350 firms, up from historically low levels – an encouraging milestone but still short of full parity.

However female representation in executive roles lags behind. While board membership approaches balance, senior leadership roles remain disproportionately male, with just over a third held by women.

In mid-market businesses – where many mentors and mentees may eventually feature – progress is similarly encouraging but incomplete. Women now occupy more than a third of senior management roles, a figure that has risen steadily but still lags behind global averages.

Female-led businesses are particularly strong in sectors such as health, wellbeing, social care, and education, where women account for around four in ten business leaders.

Entrepreneurial activity is also growing. Nearly half of new entrepreneurs in the UK are women, compared with only one-third five years ago. But barriers remain. Access to finance continues to be uneven, with venture capital funding still heavily skewed towards male-led businesses.

Mentoring programmes like Empowering Girls play a crucial role in shifting this landscape. They help to build awareness, break confidence barriers, and foster networks – precisely the connections and encouragement that female leaders often lack at the start of their journeys.

The programme is run by the Devon, Plymouth & Torbay Careers Hub, supported by a volunteer advisory panel of mentors and school representatives.

For businesswomen in Exeter, Plymouth, and across Devon, the opportunity is clear: step forward and support the next generation. The commitment is small, but the potential impact is immense.

For companies too, the benefits are significant. Encouraging staff to mentor not only builds leadership and coaching skills but also strengthens the pipeline of future talent, helps businesses demonstrate social value, and reinforces Exeter’s reputation as a city that nurtures innovation, inclusion, and growth.