17 August 2010
Business Mentoring brings success to northwest SME’s
The Business Mentoring programme was launched in September 2009
by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) to help SMEs
develop their leadership and management skills. It is provided on a
one-to-one or group basis, and is tailored to meet the needs of
individual small business owners. The programme, which is
free, is aimed at small businesses that have been trading for a
minimum of 1 year and turning over less than £2 million.
To date, over 1000 individuals have registered for the
programme. Of these, over 400 have been successfully matched
with a one-to-one mentor, and 120 have started group mentoring,
with the balance awaiting induction or allocation to a mentor or
group.
One of the participants in the programme, Steve Smith, MD of
ScanCapture in Rishton, says: “This programme has made my working
life a lot easier and I feel I am more confident to try new things.
I would recommend this service to anyone from small business owners
to CEO’s and MD’s; it is a real eye opener!”
"After initial meetings, I have already seen the benefits to
myself and my business”, adds Terrie Johnson of Fruit to Suit. “The
matching process was obviously very thorough as the match between
my own personal needs and my mentor is excellent. Setting up and
running your own business can be a very lonely and frustrating
experience. It's fantastic to be able to talk with someone who does
understand, as they have already been through the problems and
issues themselves.”
Liz Howard, from the Sensory Toy Warehouse in Wallasey affirms
“My mentor helps me to focus. She makes me look at
everything, from planning & forecasting, to staff
delegation. It can be extremely lonely being in business by
yourself, and Cathy acts as a sounding board for all my ideas.”
Since being on the business mentoring programme, Liz has
employed two additional members of staff to help her in the
business and has expanded her sensory toy business to global
markets.
The latest addition to the programme is group mentoring, where
smaller companies can meet up in facilitated discussion groups to
share their business challenges. To date, more than 20 groups
have been set up across the region. There have been unexpected
spin-offs from the group meetings, with participants networking and
creating potential joint ventures with complementary
businesses.
Surprising partnerships have developed within the groups. “I
wouldn’t have believed that I could learn management techniques
from a hairdresser”, claims one of the participants who runs a
letting agency. “It’s great to meet with like-minded people
who inspire you”, adds Sharon of Busy Bee in Liverpool, who has
recruited 3 new staff members since starting the mentoring
programme.
Lis Smith, Director of Skills & Employment at the Northwest
Regional Development Agency (NWDA) observes: In just a short time
the Business Mentoring programme has started to develop the next
generation of leaders in the region, nurturing, guiding and
developing talent in small businesses across England’s
Northwest.
“We’ve had a tremendous response to since the programme and hope
the knowledge shared will boost the local and regional
economy.”
The programme has also attracted almost 400 high calibre
business mentors, including current and former leaders of some of
the best known companies in the northwest.
Evidence suggests that becoming a mentor and inspiring other
small businesses can be extremely rewarding on a personal
level. One of the mentors in the Manchester area, Jon Stopp,
has over 20 years in business consultancy, having previously worked
with IBM, Prudential and Direct Line. He states “I like to
see businesses & people progress. I particularly
enjoy using my experience in consultancy to offer support to other
businesses, who respect your advice & opinion. It is very
rewarding to see people benefiting from your experience & to
see their confidence growing. Especially when they go on to
be successful.”
To find out more about Business Mentoring, please contact
Business Link Northwest on 0845 00 66 888 or at www.businesslinknw.co.uk/mentoring
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For further press information please contact Amanda Law-Lyons
(tel: 07900 180737) or Catherine Wilson (tel: 01925 400380) at
Mpulse.
Notes to editors:
The Northwest Regional Development Agency works to deliver
economic success in England’s Northwest by building the
competitiveness of businesses, people and places. Our activities
deliver real opportunities for the region’s seven million residents
by increasing workforce capacity and encouraging development of the
skills needed to match the region’s economic ambitions.
The Northwest Development Agency’s £4.9 million Business
Mentoring programme is part of its Leadership & Management
Framework for Action.
Business Mentoring allows an SME to optimise business growth and
achieve success. It enables SME leaders and senior managers
to have access to a real business owner and/or qualified mentor to
discuss and share challenges and helps to support business success,
productivity and improved performance. The business mentoring
programme is being delivered across the region by a network of
experienced providers. Over the three year period more than 3,000
relationships will be supported through the programme either
through one to one or group mentoring.