A project to help the coaching and mentoring industry develop common European standards is said to be bearing fruit.

The European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) - created in 2002 to promote industry-wide good practice - began a major research project last summer into the various standards currently used by the coaching and mentoring community.

EMCC Standards Committee chairman Peter Bluckert said that the project could prove a landmark step for the industry.

He said: "At present, the field of coaching and mentoring is unregulated, which means that anyone can practice as a coach or mentor, regardless of experience.

"Our standards research project will help identify the common competencies required for the different types of coaching and mentoring. This in turn could make a useful contribution to the wider debate on the future of standards in the industry."

Project researchers have amassed a huge amount of information from a wide range of professional bodies, coaching and mentoring organisations and independent practitioners and are currently evaluating their findings.

A final report is expected later this spring.

Members of the coaching and mentoring community can have their say on the industry's future online at the Coaching and Mentoring Network's discussion forum.

"The standards debate will have a great impact on the future of our industry and I would urge anyone with an interest in it to get involved," said Peter.

A professional standards workshop for anyone with an interest in this field will be held in Oxford on July 7. Those wishing to attend should contact Eric Parsloe on 01869 338989 for more details.