The Network of Women in Events CIC (NOWIE) has officially opened applications for the fourth edition of its flagship mentoring programme, Level Up, kicking off in January 2026.
After three successful editions supporting women to progress in the events industry, the 2026 programme marks an exciting evolution. For the first time, Level Up will welcome male mentors to join the initiative. This move reflects NOWIE’s commitment to building a more inclusive and collaborative industry by engaging male allies in driving positive change.
Level Up is designed to empower women navigating the complex and competitive world of events. Over a six-month period, mentees are paired with experienced mentors from across the sector, from agency founders and production experts to venue leaders and freelancers, for structured sessions that focus on goal-setting, confidence-building, financial wellbeing, and personal development.
Following the success of the 2025 cohort, which matched 45 mentees with senior mentors and achieved overwhelmingly positive feedback, the 2026 edition will continue to strengthen the industry’s support network for women and non-binary professionals.
NOWIE Director Cat Kevern commented: “Each year, we see how transformative the Level Up experience can be, not just for mentees, but for mentors too. By opening the door to male mentors, we’re taking another step towards genuine collaboration and achieving better equity in our industry. We can’t move the needle alone, and this felt like the perfect opportunity to get more men behind our mission giving them an easy way to engage with our initiatives.”
Applications for Level Up 2026 are now open. Mentee places are exclusive to NOWIE members, while mentor roles are open to anyone with at least 10 years of experience in the events industry who shares NOWIE’s values of inclusion, empowerment, and progress. For more information or to apply, visit www.nowie.org or email hello@wearenowie.org.
