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Posted: Thu 3rd Apr 2025
When you're leading a growing business, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day.
You're hiring, managing people, solving problems, juggling finances – and rarely finding the time to step back and work on the business instead of just in it.
That's exactly the cycle that Jordan Spittle, managing director of a fast-growing family construction business, was in when he signed up for the Help to Grow: Management Course.
Jordan thought he was joining for a bit of strategic development. What he got was much more: a trusted mentor, invaluable insight and a clearer path forward.
Here's why Jordan – and countless others – believe the mentoring element of the Help to Grow: Management Course is a game-changer for small business leaders.
Jordan's company The Qube – founded by his father Mick in 2007 – operates as a main contractor and specialises in turnkey building projects using modern methods of construction (MMC), throughout the education, leisure, residential and commercial sectors.
After stepping into the managing director role 18 months ago, Jordan was driving an ambitious growth strategy – but needed space to think more strategically. That's where Help to Grow: Management came in.
"The course gave me time to focus on the business, not just be in the thick of it. And the mentorship element – honestly, that's what made it for me."
Like many business owners, Jordan had supportive peers and advisers around him, but never an official mentor.
So, when he learned that the Help to Grow: Management Course included 10 hours of one-to-one mentoring, it felt like a bonus.
Through the online platform, he connected with Mark Fenyes – an experienced mentor with a background in manufacturing. That aligned closely with the construction-meets-manufacturing approach of Jordan's business.
What followed was a flexible, real-world mentoring experience, tailored to Jordan's unique challenges:
Defining mission and values: "We started with something I'd never properly done – writing out our mission and values. Having Mark's feedback helped me bring clarity to our purpose."
Time management and focus: "In one session, we literally reviewed my diary for the past four weeks. We identified what I should be stepping away from so I could focus more on leadership. That was a lightbulb moment."
Real-world decisions: Jordan used the mentoring sessions as a sounding board for live business decisions, which resulted in a restructure of his leadership team.
Some of Mark's advice was deceptively simple, but game-changing. One key tip? When sharing important ideas with your leadership team, give them space to reflect.
Jordan explains:
"Instead of me asking for immediate feedback, Mark suggested I leave the room for an hour and let people digest before responding. It totally changed the way we approach discussions."
Another major shift was around transparency. Historically, the firm had been hesitant to share 'too much'.
But when Mark explained that this key information could be crucial in helping other employees make accurate and more informed decisions, Jordan began to build more trust and make better decisions across the board.
Read more:
Beyond business strategy, Jordan reflects on how mentoring changed him personally.
"I feel more confident having difficult conversations, leading meetings, making tough calls. Mark helped me see that the people I've trusted to lead are capable – but they need the right tools and information."
That confidence extended into launching official board-style leadership meetings for the first time – a step that will guide the business through its next phase of growth.
If you're running a business – especially one with big ambitions for growth – Jordan has a clear message:
"I've read all the business books, listened to the podcasts. Nothing replaces having a mentor who understands business and gets your world. I'd recommend it to any business owner, without hesitation."
For Jordan, the mentorship isn't ending with the course. He plans to continue working with Mark on an informal basis, even bringing him into leadership meetings for feedback and development across the team.
The course combines learning from leading UK business schools with practical mentoring tailored to your business.
It's built to support small business leaders like you – whether you're looking to scale, stabilise or step up your strategy.
You'll walk away with:
a clearer growth strategy
one-to-one mentorship from a seasoned business expert
access to a nationwide network of peers and resources
practical knowledge you can implement immediately
And the best part? It's 90% funded by the UK government.
If Jordan's story resonates with you – maybe you've been thinking about growth but haven't had the headspace or guidance to make it happen – this is your sign. Find out more
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.
