A national survey has found that 40 percent of British adults have been motivated by another person to develop a talent, pursue a passion or establish a career.
However, one third of those individuals acknowledged that the person who inspired them remained unaware of the significance of their influence.
The study, which questioned 2,000 adults, examined the experiences of those who identified having a mentor or champion.
Among this group, 63 percent revealed they had previously believed the activity they were encouraged to pursue was not suited to them prior to meeting their mentor.
Additionally, 84 percent stated that their champion was the first individual to make them believe their talent warranted serious pursuit.
Within the broader sample, 23 percent of those who had been inspired by another person admitted they had never expressed their thanks.
A further 61 percent reported feeling regretful that they had not found the opportunity to convey their appreciation.
Fifty-six percent indicated they frequently revisited the guidance they received, while 84 percent expressed a desire to perpetuate their mentor’s legacy by sharing acquired wisdom with subsequent generations.
The investigation was commissioned by an arts awards organisation as part of its initiative to identify the Sky Arts Hero for 2026, an honour designed to recognise the contributions of unsung educators, mentors and supporters within artistic fields.
One participating figure in the awards programme noted that numerous creative professionals can trace their beginnings to an individual who identified latent potential, fostered self-assurance and provided encouragement during challenging periods.
Many individuals can recall a specific moment when someone perceived abilities in them before they recognised those abilities themselves.
Behind every artist, performer, writer or creative professional honoured at the awards typically stands an individual working discreetly in the background, offering support, guidance and belief.
Such individuals may never actively seek acknowledgment, yet their influence can endure throughout a lifetime.
The study further identified that beyond immediate family and friends, secondary school teachers, creative industry practitioners and initial employers exerted the most significant influence.
Among those who credited a mentor with inspiring them, secondary school emerged as the period of greatest impact at 22 percent, followed by the early phases of their career at 15 percent and college education at 10 percent.
The primary ways in which these mentors made their impact included building confidence at 43 percent, motivating continued effort at 37 percent and offering practical guidance at 32 percent.
Overall, 59 percent of respondents reported having transmitted the wisdom or encouragement they received to other individuals.
This encompassed supporting someone lacking confidence at 49 percent, sharing practical advice or creative abilities at 41 percent, or actively mentoring another person at 36 percent.
Sixty-one percent held the view that mentors supporting creative careers rarely received appropriate recognition.
Contributing factors cited included the inherently behind-the-scenes nature of their work at 45 percent, their reluctance to pursue praise or acknowledgment at 42 percent, and the fact that their influence often only became apparent years afterward at 39 percent.
One senior content executive at the broadcaster observed that talent transcended background but opportunity manifestly remained unevenly distributed.
For individuals seeking entry into creative fields, a single person offering affirmation could prove extraordinarily impactful.
An educator, mentor or youth worker could assist someone in envisioning a future they might otherwise have considered unattainable.
The award in question sought to celebrate those frequently invisible individuals whose conviction possessed the genuine capacity to redirect someone’s life trajectory.
The public was invited to submit nominations to ensure these contributors received acknowledgment at the annual ceremony.