Conference News spoke about Jessica Townsend Associated Event Technology Manager, Fast Forward 15 2024/25 Mentees, and Charlotte Yates, account manager for Weimplement.
The first Fast Forward 15 Mentoring Awards took place at Mermaid in London on Thursday, April 24th, bringing together mentors, mentees and supporters to celebrate the mentorship, innovation and individuals that shape the future of events and hospitality.
As part of the mentoring program, each FF15 cohort is tasked with providing charity events. This is an opportunity for mentees to apply skills, creativity and leadership in real life settings. This year, 2024/25 mentees chose to lead their efforts to create a professional awards ceremony, raising funds and raising awareness for good reason, celebrating excellence.
Jessica Townsend said: “We wanted to plan an event that not only raised funds for the FF15, but also challenged us. We were very ambitious in choosing the awards, but we feel it’s worth every moment.”
Charlotte Yates added: “We wanted to showcase exceptional mentors, mentees, companies, institutions and suppliers who have had a major impact on the growth and development of talent within the event and hospitality sector.”
From the initial concept to the execution, the event was completely mentee-driven and showed off the group’s incredible talent and dedication.
Collaborative Planning: Turn your ideas into seamless events
The planning process began taking shape in late 2024 as the group turned its initial idea into a full-fledged event.
Townsend explained that the group decided early that it would be best to infiltrate smaller subgroups for planning, as 15 event experts have determined that it would be extremely difficult to manage every aspect of the event. Each mentee took on a different role, and Yates took on the role of Project Lead. This means that all planning meetings and Townsends are involved in every stage of the process, registering and table planning. That is, the majority of the time was registered in the weeks leading up to the event and was dedicated to ensuring that all participants had names.
Townsend said: “We feel like we worked well as a team. On the night we congratulated us on the fact that there was no significant disagreement and that we were all proud of the roles we played in an incredible event.
She added: “Charlotte was the lead of our team and we couldn’t believe we managed every subgroup and every part. The event wouldn’t have been without her. She was truly amazing throughout the entire process.”
We leveraged our personal networks to obtain award-winning sponsors and partners. Yates said: “We were really fortunate to have such a generous sponsor supporting us. We also relied on the strong reputation of the FF15 and the support of Faye to open the doors and get people on board.”
Their combined efforts, from logistics and leadership to outreach and sponsorship, prevented the event from coming together smoothly and professionally. By splitting responsibility and supporting each other throughout the process, the mentees were able to offer successful awards. Not only did he praise the talents of the industry, he also demonstrated the strength of teamwork, the value of the network, and the impact of the FF15 program.
Lessons learned and moments to remember
From navigating logistic hurdles to balancing professional commitments, the journey to planning the Fast Forward 15 awards was filled with both challenges and rewarding moments. The mentees spoke candidly about the challenges they faced, the lessons they learned, and the highlights that made the hard work worthwhile.
Townsend said the biggest lesson she learned while planning the awards was that communication is important. The mentee also worked with the award management and participated in the mentorship scheme. Townsend said: “It was very challenging at times, and one of the hardest things to do when you feel a little overwhelmed is to talk about it or raise your hand and say you need help.
Both mentees said the highlight of the process was the award night itself. Yates said: “It was tough back then, but it reminded me that I could do anything with a little tenacity and a team morale. The most special moment for me was seeing winners and people who were praised and hearing how much it meant to them.”
The importance of mentoring:
Mentoring plays an important role in personal and professional development, providing individuals with the guidance, support and encouragement they need to grow confidently. In the event and hospitality industry where relationship building, adaptability and hands-on experience are important, mentorship offers a unique opportunity for emerging talent to learn from those who navigate the path ahead of them. Beyond skill development, mentoring is transformative, allowing mentees to unlock their potential, explore new opportunities, and gain confidence to lead. At the same time, mentors gain fresh perspectives and satisfaction with giving back, creating a culture of collaboration and long-term success.
The Mentoring Awards are a microcosm of this, introducing and celebrating the incredible work of mentors and mentees. Townsend said: “This event recognizes all the wonderful things that FF15 represents, and giving someone time to mentor someone is such a gift and I was very pleased to have chosen to celebrate people who give them the time and effort to support others in the industry.”
She added: “Mentering helps people find their foothold in the event and hospitality world, and it also gives them the confidence to speak up and share ideas. There are so many different aspects to mentoring, but being supported by someone in the industry is invaluable.”
The success of the first Fast Forward 15 mentoring awards is a powerful reminder of what passion, purpose and mentoring power can be achieved when they come together.
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