Endocrine Abstracts

The value of mentoring by an experienced, usually older colleague, is widely acknowledged, but just as important is the value of sharing experiences, knowledge and support within a peer group. Peer-to-peer collaboration, or peer mentoring, provides opportunities for networking, friendship, education and career development and advice. Formal groupings and networks often exist locally in the form of student or postdoc societies. The Young Endocrinologists of the Society for Endocrinology provide a national network. By working together, they form a lobby group promoting the interests of early career researchers. This is effective at many levels, not least in representing our early career researchers at parliamentary events over the last couple of years. Within the Society for Endocrinology, the YEs have demonstrated that they can shape Society policy to promote their needs and interests, as well as providing a valuable and lasting network of friendships and collaborations to those at the outset of their career.