'Gutted' Brits admit they never thanked mentors who inspired their dream careers

'Gutted' Brits admit they never thanked mentors who inspired their dream careers A third of adults say the person who encouraged them has no idea how much of a difference they made – as search launches for the Sky Arts Hero 2026. Four in 10 Brits say they have been inspired by someone else to pursue a talent, passion or career – but a third admit the person who encouraged them has no idea just how much of a difference they made. A study of 2,000 adults found that among those who had a mentor, 63% believed the path they wanted to take 'wasn’t for them' before meeting that person. For 84% their mentor was the first person to make them feel their talent was worth pursuing, and later encouraged them to go for it. However, many never got the chance to show their appreciation. The research found 23% of those spurred on by someone else have never thanked them, while 61% said they were 'gutted' they didn’t get the opportunity to express their gratitude. More than half (56%) said they often, or very often, look back on the advice they were given – and 84% want to continue that legacy by passing their wisdom on to the next generation. The research was commissioned by the Sky Arts Awards as it launches the search for the Sky Arts Hero 2026, celebrating the unsung teachers, mentors and champions behind people’s artistic journeys. Comedian and author Shappi Khorsandi, who has teamed up with the awards, said: “Behind so many creative careers is someone who spotted potential, nurtured confidence and encouraged a person to keep going when things felt difficult. “Many people can pinpoint a moment when somebody saw something in them before they saw in themselves. Behind every artist, performer, writer or creative career recognised on-stage at the awards is often someone working quietly in the background, offering support, guidance and belief. “They may never seek recognition, but their impact can last a lifetime.” Beyond family and friends, respondents said schoolteachers, creative professionals and first bosses had the greatest impact on their careers. For those inspired by a mentor, secondary school was the time they had the most influence (22%), followed by the early stages of their career (15%) and college (10%). The biggest ways mentors helped were by building confidence (43%), encouraging them to keep trying (37%) and giving practical advice (32%). In total, 59% said they have gone on to pass the wisdom or encouragement they received to others – including encouraging someone who lacks confidence (49%), sharing practical advice or creative skills (41%), or mentoring somebody themselves (36%). Overall, 61% believe the mentors behind creative careers rarely receive the recognition they deserve, according to OnePoll figures. Reasons included their work happening behind the scenes, not seeking praise, and their impact only becoming clear years later. Phil Edgar Jones, executive director of unscripted content at Sky, added: “Talent isn't confined to any one background, but opportunity clearly isn’t evenly distributed. “For anyone looking to break into the arts, having just one person say ‘you can do this’ can be incredibly powerful. A teacher, mentor or youth worker can help someone see a future for themselves that they might otherwise have thought wasn't possible. “The Sky Arts Hero Award is about celebrating those often-unseen people whose belief can genuinely change the direction of someone’s life. "We want the public to tell us who those people are so we can celebrate their contribution at this year’s awards.”