Professional Training Coaching Scheme

The Professional Training Coaching Scheme connects students returning from their Professional Training year with students preparing for Professional Training.

Get involved

A coach will:

  • Give you friendly support and advice
  • Help you through the placement-seeking process
  • Prepare you for the world of work, or in some cases international study.

Being a coach can give you:

  • Transition support back into university life
  • Continued personal and professional development
  • Opportunities to work towards formalised certificates and/or Surrey’s Professional Skills Award

Find a coach

Any second-year student (or third-year engineer) seeking support as they embark on their Professional Training journey can become a coachee.

Applications for 2024/25 are now closed.

Become a coach

Final-year students who wish to become a coach should be organised, flexible, strong communicators and have completed a Professional Training placement. You don’t need to have experience of coaching as we will provide you with training, but enthusiasm for helping others is essential!

Applications for 2024/25 are now closed.

Frequently asked questions

How much time does it take?

The time required for providing coaching support is something that you will negotiate with your coachees.

As a guideline we would expect a PT coach to commit to a minimum of four hours per month, spread over the number of allocated coachees. (This is also the requisite amount to work towards a Duke of Edinburgh Award).

Will I be given training?

A training session will run for coaches.

The training will cover the scope of the role, how to begin, maintain and end a positive coach relationship, setting boundaries on the relationship and key services and points of information that you may refer your coachee to.

When will I know if I’ve been matched?

The matching process will take place after the closing date for applications. Unfortunately it is not always possible to make immediate matches as we cannot guarantee availability of appropriate coaches / coachees but will endeavour to keep you informed as things progress.

You will be contacted by email with details of your coach / coachee when matched.

When will I meet my coach?

We would ask you to make contact with your coach / coachee and arrange to have your initial meeting within two weeks of being matched.

Will I get paid as a coach?

The PT coach positions are not paid, but you can use this time volunteering towards obtaining a Duke of Edinburgh award. You will also obtain valuable experience which is desirable to potential employers.

What if I don’t like my coach/coachee?

It is normal that sometimes coaches and coachees just don’t get on, and as part of the initial meeting you will discuss that it is okay for either of you to end the partnership if necessary.

If this does happen it is important to reflect on the reasons why this has happened and learn from this for the future.

What if my coach/coachee is studying a different programme to me?

Whilst we match coaches and coachees as closely as we can, it is possible that you will both come from different academic programmes. 

If this happens, please don’t be disheartened. There are still many ways that the partnership can be productive. The process of searching for and securing a placement is very similar across the University and whatever the background, a coaches experience of securing a placement will be a valuable resource.

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