News

February 21, 2012

Free support aims to boost numbers of business mentors

Small-business owners are being encouraged to sign up as volunteer business mentors, with the help of a new online training tool launched by the Government.

The free tool has been launched on the Get Mentoring website – part of an initiative launched last November by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which aims to recruit business mentors to help budding entrepreneurs and small-business owners fulfil their potential.

Those signing up for the online training will receive access to videos and tutorials covering subjects such as legal and ethical requirements of mentoring, demands facing the entrepreneur, business finance, marketing and sales.

Training will also be available in free workshops taking place throughout February around the UK.

According to the organisers of the Get Mentoring scheme, benefits of becoming a business mentor include being able to give back to the enterprise community and playing a crucial role in helping businesses grow, while mentors can often learn new ideas and improve their own commercial know-how.

Those that complete either the online or workshop training also gain free membership of the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, which offers networking opportunities.

Small-business minister Mark Prisk said mentoring was a very effective way for aspiring entrepreneurs to get the necessary support for success. “It enables business people to harness the knowledge and expertise of those who have been there and done it before,” he said.

“Having worked as a mentor I know how rewarding it can be to use your business experience and help someone who is eager to learn,” added Prisk. “I would encourage business people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved in mentoring as it really can help to give a new or growing business a boost in their development.”

The Government hopes to enlist the support of 15,000 new mentors and said 3,000 have already signed up. Get Mentoring is part of a wider push by the Government to boost private enterprise – it recently launched the ‘Business in You’ campaign to encourage people to start up their own venture.

Business owners looking for a mentor can access mentors recruited by Get Mentoring through the Mentorsme.co.uk website.

• Female business owners offered access to 5,000 mentors
• Q&A: Mentoring