Mentoring emerges as next generation’s top development priority

Mentoring could play a pivotal role in improving retention and career development across specialist lending, according to the NextGen Talent Report 2026.

Download the full report here: https://finance-connect.com/building-a-career-in-asset-or-receivables-finance/

The research found that 85% of respondents view mentoring as a valuable career development tool, making it one of the most highly rated forms of professional support in the entire survey.

Yet only around a third of respondents reported having experienced mentoring during their careers.

Many participants described mentoring as transformative, helping them gain confidence, understand potential career paths and access opportunities beyond their immediate role.

The report suggests the industry’s current reliance on informal workplace learning leaves too much development to chance.

Respondents praised on-the-job learning for providing practical experience but criticised the lack of structure and consistency, noting that the quality of development often depends on who happens to be available to provide guidance.

“What strikes me most about this survey is how similar the appetite of the next generation is to the experience my generation valued,” he said in the report’s foreword. “They want community. They want qualifications that are recognised across the market and that open doors. And they want a visible connection between the development they invest in and the career they are trying to build.”

The report recommends expanding The Leasing Foundation’s mentoring programme, which launched earlier this year and was oversubscribed in its first round.

Researchers argue that mentoring should become a standard part of career development across specialist lending, helping employees build networks, gain broader industry perspectives and better understand long-term career opportunities.

The report concludes that mentoring represents one of the most cost-effective and impactful ways for the industry to strengthen talent retention while supporting the next generation of professionals.

The report recommends expanding industry-wide mentoring initiatives and building stronger peer networks to support career development across specialist lending.

The findings form part of the NextGen Talent Report 2026, published by Finance Connect in association with The Leasing Foundation and the NextGen Council of Receivables Finance Connect, and sponsored by Allica Bank, Arkle Finance Ltd, BPCE Equipment Solutions, Finance Education Centre, Haydock Finance Ltd, Novuna Business Finance, and Simply Asset Finance.