Flagship business support course set to match thousands of small businesses with mentors

From today, the government's Help to Grow: Management Course will start to match thousands of small firms with mentors from leading businesses as it enters its second year.

Top names including Microsoft, banking giant Santander, FTSE 100 telecoms firm Vodafone, leading flexible space provider WeWork and home repairs and improvements company HomeServe have signed up their leaders, alongside hundreds of independent entrepreneurs, to a network of voluntary mentors who will help business leaders develop a growth action plan.

Help to Grow: Management

The Help to Grow: Management Course offers business leaders one-to-one support from a business mentor included in 50 hours of leadership and management training across 12 weeks, with the government covering 90% of the costs involved. Training is delivered via a national network of 56 business schools.

According to the latest Enterprise Nation Small Business Barometer, around a quarter of firms (24%) said they were already working with a mentor and of those 80% rated their experience very good or excellent.

Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, part of the consortium of businesses contracted to recruit volunteer mentors, said:

"It's been so incredibly humbling to see high-calibre leaders including hundreds of independent business owners, with the human strength and humility to step forward and offer their own time, experience and knowledge to support the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs.

"Our platform will allow businesses to find the perfect match for their business so they can start to put what they have learned into practice."

The digital platform uses data and weighting technology to pair businesses with mentors based on region, sector, and mentoring support required.

Mentors are voluntary and offer a commitment of 10 hours, over 12 weeks, plus time to engage in training offered by the Association of Business Mentors.

Once they have found a mentor that suits their requirements, the Help to Grow: Management Course participant will then use the platform to book in sessions and communicate with each other.

Small business minister Jane Hunt MP said:

"Seizing opportunity is what being a business leader is all about, and our Help to Grow: Management Course is giving entrepreneurs the chance to access the very best advice on how to innovate, reach new customers and boost profits.

"The great and the good of the business world are signing up to mentor the next generation of top business leaders through the scheme, and I encourage even more people to sign up as both mentors and mentees through Help to Grow."

Dr Adam Jones, principal lecturer and director of the University of Brighton's Help to Grow: Management Course, said:

"The mentoring element of the course is one of the most important aspects of the programme for delegates. It means they have support from a 'critical friend' who can help them with their growth plan and sense check their long-term approach.

"Mentoring really helps embed learnings in a practical way and helps support a lasting legacy because connections that are made, may continue beyond the lifetime of the programme."

Experienced entrepreneurs and trusted advisers are also signing up to be voluntary mentors, including:

• Herman Stewart, founder of Every Child Needs a Mentor

• banking and fintech innovator Helene Panzarino

• award-winning entrepreneur Chris Cole, founder of 40 Fathoms

• e-commerce innovator Nathan Lomax who launched and quickly took Quickfire Digital to a business with £1 million revenue.

Tim Hinton, head of corporate and commercial banking at Santander UK, said:

"We are totally committed to supporting this national effort to help boost the growth of small businesses, not least through our talented and experienced employees acting as volunteer mentors."

Led by business support group Newable and including Enterprise Nation and the Association of Business Mentors, the consortium has been grant-funded to develop a national network of business leaders and experts who will share their skills and experience with firms on the practical management training course.

Want to help a small business grow?

Being a mentor goes far beyond the rewarding feeling of 'giving back'. Mentors gain a range of personal development benefits from the experience.

Become a voluntary mentor for the Help to Grow: Management Course and commit 10 hours over 12 weeks to support businesses with their growth action plan. Sign up today

The national mentoring element of the Help to Grow: Management Course is being delivered by a partnership of Newable, Enterprise Nation and the Association of Business Mentors on behalf of the Department for Business & Trade.