Open until 31/12/2026

The Santander Women Business Leaders’ mentoring programme

The programme created for the next generation of fast-growth ambitious female founders and business owners.

Apply now

Supporting women and entrepreneurship

 

We've run our Women Business Leaders' mentoring programme since 2019. It’s a key part of our commitment to the Government's Investing in Women Code. The Code supports the advancement of female founders and business owners in the UK. It does this by improving access to tools, resources, and finance.

 

Find out more about the Government's Investing in Women Code.

MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

2 ways of participating in the programme

Become a mentee and get access to highly experienced experts or become a mentor and support growing small to medium sized businesess owned by women. 

If you want to be a mentee

To get a place on the programme you’ll be:

  • a Santander business customer, or interested in becoming one
  • a female founder, owner or majority shareholder of a business
  • registered as a UK company and trading for a minimum of 18 months.

 

To get the most out of the programme you'll need to: 

  • be prepared to take responsibility for progressing your business 
  • be open to feedback and challenge from your mentor 
  • have a clear ambition to scale up your business. This could include growing your network or your team. 

If you want to be a mentor

Here’s what we look for in a mentor:

  • experience of having run or owned your own business, or
  • a business leader with corporate experience. Knowledge of small to medium size businesses is also required.
  • we take on both female and male mentors.

 

To be a grat mentor you'll need to: 

  • understand how small and medium size businesses work
  • be prepared to share insights based on your experiences
  • be a positive role model
  • be committed, reliable and maintain discretion
  • have great listening skills and be easy to talk to
  • be happy to complete mentor training.

If you get a place in the programme you'll have access to a set of benefits

Mentor matchmaking

We’ll match you with a suitable mentor. Our mentors come from a wide range of sectors and have at least 5 years leadership experience.

Support your business growth

We’ll help you think in different ways about your business. Your mentor will have the skills and experience to guide you through this.

Additional resources

You’ll be given the resources to make sure you get the most from the programme.

Networking opportunities

You’ll be part of an active network of female founders.

Apply now

What our alumni say

In the videos below you can hear from our alumni on the impact the programme has had to support with accelerated business growth, increased resilience and increased connections.

  • Moving ahead

Fechas clave

From
06
Mar
2025
To
07
May
2025
Convocatoria abierta

Periodo de inscripciones al programa.

 

From
30
May
2025
Notificación final de seleccionados

Proceso de evaluación, selección y comunicado de beneficiarios.

From
02
Jun
2025
To
27
Jun
2025
Programa

Participación de beneficiarios en el programa durante 4 semanas. 

From
10
Jul
2025
Selección de participantes para el Programa de Liderazgo

Evaluación y selección de los participantes con mejor desempeño, serán invitados a participar en un programa exclusivo de Liderazgo. 

 

Nuestro compromiso

 

Banco Santander

Banco Santander mantiene un firme compromiso con el progreso con una apuesta pionera y consolidada por la educación, la empleabilidad y el emprendimiento, que desarrolla desde hace más de 27 años y le distingue del resto de entidades financieras del mundo.

Ha sido reconocido como una de las empresas que más están contribuyendo a cambiar el mundo a mejor, según la lista ‘Change the World’ 2023 de la revista Fortune. El banco ha destinado más de 2.300 millones de euros y ha apoyado a más de 1,5 millones de personas y empresas a través de acuerdos con más de 1.200 universidades.  

 

Fundación IE

IE University promueve el cambio positivo a través de la educación, la investigación y la innovación. La institución académica ofrece un ecosistema de aprendizaje basado en la tecnología para líderes que marcan la diferencia en el mundo con visión global, mentalidad emprendedora, respeto hacia la diversidad y la sostenibilidad, y un enfoque único en humanidades. 

IE University, a través de IE Business School y el equipo de IE Lifelong Learning, fomenta el crecimiento personal y profesional continuo a través de sus programas transformadores de Executive Education. IE reconoce la importancia del aprendizaje continuo como catalizador del éxito en el dinámico mundo actual. Sus programas, meticulosamente elaborados, están diseñados para dotar a los individuos y a las organizaciones de los últimos conocimientos sobre la industria, las estrategias de vanguardia y las habilidades de liderazgo esenciales para mantenerse a la vanguardia.