Are You Mentored?

Recent research shows 8 out of 10 SME leaders credit mentoring as playing a vital part in their growth; and 7 out of 10 view it as a resource crucial to their business survival.

Despite this, many businesses continue to face challenges accessing high-quality business mentoring support and consistently cite the difficulty in knowing where to go and finding the right qualified mentors to support them.

To address these needs and issues, leading firms from across the UK responsible for mentoring standards and accredited mentoring services have come together to form a National Business Mentoring Council, supported by government and referenced within its  Small Business Plan.

The Council brings together senior representatives from across regions and nations involved in business mentoring, finance, entrepreneurship and academia. Its mission is to reduce sector fragmentation, strengthen professional pathways for mentors, share data and industry trends, and promote the benefits of and access to mentoring for SMEs, startups, and scaling firms. The Council also supports government strategies that foster business growth and resilience.

Supporting the business journey

Irene Graham OBE, Co-Chair of the National Business Mentoring Council and CEO of the ScaleUp Institute, told the Eye Media Channels:  “Mentoring is a proven source of support in business scaling up but for business leaders too often it remains difficult to navigate where good mentors are available. The Council’s aim, working with experts across the UK, is to address these challenges and foster greater collaboration between mentoring groups and easier access to proven quality mentorship so that no matter where a business is in the UK there is an easier pathway to find the mentor to suit their needs and support their business journey.”

Georgina Waite, Co-Chair of the National Business Mentoring Council and CEO of the Association of Business Mentors, also told the Eye Group: “Mentoring plays a pivotal role in empowering business leaders, helping them to navigate challenges and unlock growth opportunities. By uniting the sector’s collective expertise through the Council, we can make high-quality mentorship more accessible to businesses nationwide, helping ensure that they get the support they need to start, scale and thrive.”

Business Mentoring Council membership:

Co-Chair, Irene Graham OBE, CEO, ScaleUp Institute

Co-Chair, Georgina Waite, CEO, Association of Business Mentoring.

Chelsey Baker, CEO & Founder, National Mentoring Day.

Julie Baker, Head of Strategic Partnerships, NatWest and representing Invest in Women Taskforce.

Dr Liz Cameron CBE, Director and Chief Executive, Scottish Chambers of Commerce Limited.

Malcolm Cohen, Managing Director, Advice, Newable Partnerships Limited.

Mike Conroy, Director, Commercial Finance, or James Jeffreys, Principal, Commercial Finance, UK Finance.

Polly Dhaliwal, COO, Enterprise Nation.

Flora Hamilton, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter and CEO of the Chartered Association of Business Schools.

Anthony Impey MBE, CEO, Be The Business.

Richard Jeffery, National Director, The Growth Company.

Karen Licurse, Managing Director, Digital Boost.

Ruth Lowbridge, Executive Chair, SFEDI.

Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder, Small Business Britain & Lilac Review.

David Pugh, Chief Executive, PRIME Cymru.

Monder Ram, Professor of Small Business, Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship, Aston Business School.

Sarah Trouten, CEO, IOEE.

Iain Wright, Chief Policy and Communications Officer, ICAEW.

National Mentoring Council Supportive Quotes

Michelle Ovens CBE, Chief Executive Officer of Small Business Britain said:

“Mentoring plays a vital role in unlocking potential and levelling the playing field for entrepreneurs, especially those from underrepresented communities who face additional barriers to growth. Expanding access to high-quality mentoring for startups, scaling firms and microbusinesses is essential to building a more inclusive, resilient and thriving UK economy. Supporting entrepreneurs at every stage is central to our work, and we welcome greater collaboration that supports this ambition.”

Dr Liz Cameron CBE, Director & Chief Executive, Scottish Chambers of Commerce said:

“Mentoring is one of the most powerful tools we have to unlock the full potential of our SMEs. The National Mentoring Council is building a culture of shared experience, ambition, and resilience where every entrepreneur has access to the insight and support they need to grow. I am proud to champion this work as part of the UK Government’s SME Strategy, because when we invest in mentoring, we invest in the future of our economy.”

David Pugh, Chief Executive, PRIME Cymru said:

“PRIME Cymru is proud to be a part of the National Business Mentoring Council. We know what a powerful resource mentoring can be for businesses and look forward to sharing insights from our Welsh startup mentoring scheme with the group. This is an important step towards building a stronger business landscape across the UK.”

Monder Ram, Professor of Small Business, Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship, Aston Business:

“The National Business Mentoring Council addresses an important gap in entrepreneurial support. Our research at CREME shows that entrepreneurs from ethnic minority backgrounds often struggle to access quality mentoring due to limited networks and cultural barriers. This Council’s focus on supporting underserved communities is welcome and necessary. By coordinating expertise across the UK, we can better ensure that entrepreneurial talent from all backgrounds has access to appropriate mentorship”

Mike Conroy, Director, Commercial Finance, UK Finance said:

“The business mentoring programmes run by our members, as well as the countless business mentoring organisations across the UK, make such a difference to SMEs. Our Mentorsme.co.uk website will help to make it easier for business owners to find the right mentoring programmes and organisations that can help them to manage better and grow more.”

Pictured at launch: The National Business Mentoring Council.

www.ukfinance.org.uk/mentors-me