What's happening in coaching and mentoring? And what is the difference between them?

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a summary of the latest developments in the field of corporate coaching and mentoring. Design/methodology/approach Provides a viewpoint on the coaching and mentoring field drawing on research from Europe and the US. Findings Structured or supported coaching and mentoring within organisations is evolving rapidly and research is at last beginning to provide valuable insights into effective practices. Some strongly‐held assumptions are being challenged along the way. Greater definitional clarity, within specific contexts, contributes to efficacy. Increasing professionalisation with the coaching and mentoring sector is being helped by dialogue between the various bodies representing coaches and mentors and by the spread of supervision. Originality/value The article provides a succinct overview of the current position of the corporate coaching and mentoring arena and offers insights into how the field will develop in the future.