Peer Coaching for Career Development (PeCo)

Applications close Monday 7 April 2025 at 9am

PeCo is a peer coaching programme  designed to support early career researchers who have completed a PhD to develop coaching skills and insights for their own career development. The programme is led by a professional coach with many years’ experience working with academic researchers.

Many researchers face similar sorts of challenges in their roles – for example, repeated fixed-term contracts, access to senior support, and time management. PeCo brings together a group of peers at a similar stage, enabling you to uncover insights relating to navigating issues which you often share with others. Previous participants have found that the programme has helped them build their skills in ways that have helped in management and supervisory elements of their roles.   

PeCo is deliberately kept at a smaller size to aid discussions and connection, and to enable greater support from the programme facilitators. 

Participants will learn and practice coaching skills in a group setting – helpful for progressing career goals and building your network in mental health research.

PeCo 2025 consists of 8 sessions from May 2025 to January 2026:

• Thursday 22 May 2025, 9.30am-11am online
• Thursday 19 June 2025, 10am-3pm in person coaching skills workshop (Birmingham)
• Thursday 10 July 2025, 9.30am-11am online
• Thursday 4 September 2025, 9.30am-11am online
• Thursday 16 October 2025, 9.30am-11am online
• Tuesday 4 November 2025, 10am-3pm in person MHR Incubator Gathering with alumni from GROW and PeCo (Manchester)
• Thursday 11 December 2025, 9.30am-11am online
• Thursday 8 January 2026, 9.30am-11am online

6 sessions will be hosted online, and 2 sessions will be face-to-face. Travel costs for in-person sessions will be reimbursed.
All participants must commit to attending each of the programme sessions. Please do not apply if you cannot commit to attending every session.