How mentoring helps business

Get Mentoring is putting a call out to people running and working in creative and cultural businesses across the UK to volunteer as business mentors to others.

Research has shown that 70 percent of small businesses that receive mentoring survive for five years or more. This is double the rate compared with non-mentored entrepreneurs.

In addition to this 20 percent of mentored businesses are more likely to experience growth too.

Therefore, the availability of experienced mentors in the creative and cultural sector will boost existing businesses and radically increase the survival rate of new creative and cultural businesses too.

Free training for mentors

That's why Get Mentoring is inviting people to register their interest as a volunteer mentor at www.getmentoring.org, after which they'll be invited to attend or complete online a free training course introducing them to the skills required to mentor.

Ruth Lowbridge of Get Mentoring, says,

"The way the scheme works is that someone with business experience signs up, takes part in the free introductory training course to get them started, and then either develops their own mentoring relationships or can contact the many organisations looking for mentors.

"Delivering a scheme which trains an army of volunteer business mentors is a 'win win' for everyone involved; it helps the mentors give back to like minded business and bring new skills and ideas in their own business and it contributes to the success of their sector as a whole."

It is certainly true that as well as the benefits for the mentored business, mentors are reporting how it brings them major benefits too, including developing an insight into the hot topics effecting new businesses today, a mentoring skill set which they can apply to their other daily interactions and the chance to build some meaningful contacts with individuals in the next generation of businesses.

The experience of mentor training

Recently trained mentor, Laura Howard from Northamptonshire said,

"The training course is fantastic, very well explained and easy to follow. I have learned the difference between advising and mentoring and the course taught me about body language, about being a good listener and giving constructive feedback to the mentee.

"I absolutely loved it. I have been very lucky and privileged to have great mentors in my life and now is my turn to put in practice my mentoring skills."

Are you interested in becoming a volunteer business mentor?

Find out more and sign up by visiting www.getmentoring.org and complete the training course online or at a workshop near you.