Soho House launches its mentorship programme in Stockholm to support the next generation of Swedish creatives

Mentorship is an immeasurably valuable thing, especially for those working in creative fields. It’s precisely why Soho House launched its mentorship programme in 2018, which pairs its community of established creatives with the next generation. Following a successful launch in Copenhagen, Soho House brings its 16-week mentorship programme to Stockholm. “It’s no secret that the creative industries can be difficult to break into – particularly for people from lower socioeconomic, underrepresented and marginalised groups,” says Lill Lindqvist, the Head of Membership and Communications at Soho House Stockholm. “People are at the heart of everything we do at Soho House, and we are passionate about using our platform to help overcome these barriers for people looking to break into the creative industry.” To date, Soho House has supported over 1,400 young creatives through the programme.

With the help of their partner Routes In, an initiative that specialises in setting up meaningful mentorships, Soho House connected a group of mentees with its mentors, who work across a range of creative fields, including music production, fashion design, creative direction and graphic design. “We want the mentorship programme to help mentees grow connections, confidence and experience – providing a route for them to access their chosen creative field with real-world support from one of our members who is now established but was once also just starting out,” says Lindqvist. Mentors receive training on how to best support their mentees, and throughout the programme, mentees receive a one-year free membership at Soho House.

Related: The restaurants, bars and cafés Stockholm fashion insiders love

Among the mentors in the programme is Soho House Stockholm’s own general manager, Andreas Wadlund. “Throughout my career in hospitality, I’ve had my fair share of challenges as a result of entering the industry quite young and, therefore, finding myself in senior positions at a younger age than most,” he says. “The in-experience and criticism from senior colleagues without guidance and support was tough, and I would like to be a positive change in somebody else’s experience starting out in their career or trying to break into an industry.” As Wadlund notes, mentors also have plenty to learn from their mentees, who also come to the table with various backgrounds and experiences.

Soho House’s mentorship programme is particularly valuable in a city like Stockholm, where the creative scene can, at times, seem quite insular. “Whilst the creative scene is growing in Stockholm, it can still feel very small and breaking through is tough,” says Lindqvist. “By offering insights into industry trends specific to Stockholm, we’re helping them navigate the city’s creative world while also broadening their horizons. The mentorship will help them get fresh perspectives, build networks, and take their work to the next level.”