Warwick Business School has been nominated for a national training award.

The school’s mentoring programme run by the external relations team has been shortlisted for the Training Journal Awards’ mentoring category.

Children’s charity Barnardo's, Ceuta Healthcare Group, Gateshead College City Hospitals Sunderland Newcastle Hospitals, employment agency REED and housebuilding firm Taylor Wimpey are Warwick Business School’s rivals for the award, which is in its eighth year.

The two-year WBS mentoring programme has seen more than 350 students and alumni of the school gain support and guidance from senior businessmen and women.

The mentors are alumni of the school and volunteer for the programme, offering independent advice on how to help people reach their career goals or with their course, and generally giving them support face-to-face, over email, phone or Skype.

A survey of the 2011 and 2012 intakes found that 90 per cent would recommend the mentoring programme, which continues to grow.

Don Barratt, a volunteer who leads the mentoring programme, said: "The fact that the categories are open to entries from across the whole spectrum of industry, commerce and the public sector, and from organisations of all sizes, is testament to the strong impact our entry made on the judges.

“We are delighted to receive this nomination, and of course hope to be celebrating at the Gala Dinner in London in November! This is a tangible recognition of three years hard work by the hundreds of people involved so far."

The mentoring programme team will be interviewed by a panel of judges in October before the winners are announced on November 27 at a ceremony in London.

Elena Boockhagen, who benefited from the mentoring programme while doing the Warwick MBA by distance learning, said: “It has been a great journey for me personally. I had a fantastic learning experience and great support at a time of challenge. I moved countries, changed jobs, spoke different languages and many other things within one year. If it wasn't for my great mentor I am not sure how my life would have developed as it was already a huge challenge coping with the change."

Sixteen gold awards will be presented at the Awards' Gala Dinner in November, plus silver and bronze for those who achieve second and third position in each of the categories.