Mentorship is often described as a two-way street, where both mentor and mentee grow together.

At British Land, we’re committed to investing in the next generation of real estate professionals. That’s why we’re proud to partner with Circl - a unique initiative that connects individuals from underrepresented backgrounds with our teams, offering valuable industry insights and helping them develop essential skills for their future careers.

We recently spoke with Angela Hays, Director of Operations, and Mohammad Mannan, Assistant Estate Manager at our Broadgate Campus, who shared their experiences from their Circl journey, which began in 2019.

Their conversation highlighted a universal truth: everyone brings their authentic self to work, and it’s this humanity that makes mentorship so impactful. Both Angela and Mohammad agreed that mentorship is about exposure, practice, and personal growth.

Angela observed Mohammad’s confidence grow with each session, while Mohammad credited the programme, and Angela’s encouragement, for helping him believe in his abilities. “During the programme I’d often hear you give me a lot of praise… it made me feel like I can do this. And it’s practice as well,” Mohammad shared.

Circl is designed to push participants out of their comfort zones, providing real-world opportunities to practice new skills. As Angela noted, “These programmes allow that because they just throw you into these situations and then all of a sudden, you’re well-rehearsed at it.”

Through Circl, Mohammad discovered his passion for real estate, built confidence, and developed industry skills, which in turn launched his career as an Assistant Estate Manager.

The experience inspired both to continue their journeys. Angela is now pursuing a coaching qualification, eager to support others at British Land. Mohammad, motivated by his own growth, has signed up to become a mentor with Career Ready, hoping to guide students who are just starting out.

By working with Circl, we have supported colleagues at all levels across British Land to unlock new skills, enabling leaders to become coaches, while empowering young talent to thrive.