Ground Forum Undergraduate Mentoring Programme

Programme period: October 2024 – Aug 2025
Client: Ground Forum
Programme type: Undergraduate mentoring and professional development initiative for aspiring engineers and geoscientists

The Brief

Ground Forum commissioned Forum Court Associates to coordinate and deliver the Ground Forum Undergraduate Mentoring Programme (GFUMP) for the 2024–25 academic year.
Now in its fifth year, the scheme was established in 2020 to bridge the gap between university study and careers in ground engineering, geotechnics and the wider built environment.

The 2024/25 objectives were to:

  • Connect undergraduates with experienced industry mentors for tailored career guidance.
  • Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, encouraging participation from students of all backgrounds.
  • Strengthen the relationship between academia and industry through structured mentoring and professional engagement.
  • Provide practical workshops and networking opportunities that enhance employability and confidence.
  • Expand work-experience and early-career opportunities across the Ground Forum network.

Our Role

Forum Court Associates coordinated every aspect of programme delivery on behalf of Ground Forum, including:

  • Promotion & Recruitment – Outreach to universities and industry members attracted 48 student applications, resulting in 36 active mentees matched with 36 mentors from across the Ground Forum member organisations.
  • Onboarding & Guidance – Developed the programme calendar, evolved mentor sign-off sheets for improved engagement tracking, and issued mentor/mentee handbooks to support consistent participation.
  • Event Management – Delivered a series of online workshops including a Welcome Event, CV Writing & Interview Skills, and Introduction to Industry sessions, plus the first in-person Soils Workshop with Julian Lovell at Equipe Group, which received 20 applications.
  • Work-Experience Facilitation – Supported the coordination of 30 placements offered by participating organisations, providing invaluable industry exposure.
  • Digital Engagement – Produced the GFUMP Podcast, published via AudioBoom, sharing insights from mentors and mentees and raising the scheme’s national profile.
  • Recognition & Awards – The programme’s Mentor of the Year was invited to attend the FPS Awards 2025 in celebration of exceptional contributions to mentoring.
  • Monitoring & Evaluation – Collected feedback from all participants to inform planning for 2025/26, addressing engagement challenges and future enhancements.

Programme Highlights

  • 36 students mentored from 12 universities across England and Scotland.
  • Strong representation from Civil Engineering, Engineering Geology, Geotechnics, Earth Sciences, and Environmental Engineering courses.
  • 78 % of students identified as BAME, and 33 % were female, underlining the programme’s success in promoting inclusion.
  • Delivery of pre-recorded and live virtual events complemented by the innovative Soils Workshop and the GFUMP Podcast.
  • Strengthened employer links with member companies offering mentoring, workshops and placement opportunities.
  • Development of new administrative tools (event timeline, sign-off sheets) improving structure and accountability.
  • Continued engagement with key industry partners across design, construction, geotechnical, and environmental sectors.

Supporting Organisations

Mentors and placement hosts were drawn from a diverse range of leading companies, including:
Mott MacDonald, BAM, Robert Group, Geoquip Marine, Equans, Jacobs, AKT II, Laing O’Rourke, CGL, Fairhurst, Walsh, Tony Gee, Ruddlesden Geotechnical, RSK Group, AtkinsRéalis, Jomas Associates, NEOM, Dr Sauer & Partners, and Geosynthetics Ltd.

Results & Feedback

Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive:

  • Mentees reported increased confidence, career clarity, and improved CV and interview skills.

“I connected with a great mentor and received valuable CV advice through this scheme… It gave me confidence to enter the geotechnical industry.”
“My mentor, Julian Lovell, helped me throughout the year and even gave me the opportunity to help organise a geotechnical event.”

  • Mentors valued the opportunity to give back to the profession and nurture emerging talent.

“If more companies could offer in-person workshops like the soil-logging session, it would be fantastic.”
“A Mentor of the Year award would be a great incentive to encourage continued participation.”

While the year was a success overall, a few mentors noted challenges with student engagement, leading to plans for more structured communication tools (e.g., a dedicated Teams channel).

The GFUMP continues to demonstrate measurable impact—strengthening diversity in recruitment pipelines and connecting academia with professional practice.

Looking to the Future

For 2025/26, the GFUMP will focus on:

  • Expanding mentor participation across Ground Forum’s membership.
  • Strengthening ties with universities and student societies.
  • Introducing themed webinars, regional networking events, and site visits.
  • Developing improved diversity reporting and engagement tracking.
  • Launching new opportunities