Mark Prisk MP |
With funding to recruit and train a further 5,000 mentors as part of a package of support for female entrepreneurs announced earlier this month, as well as almost 11,000 business mentors already available through www.mentorsme.co.uk this investment will bring the total number of business mentors available through the new mentoring portal to around 26,000.
New grant funding of £1.2 million will support the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI) new Get Mentoring scheme recruit 10,000 business volunteers from small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
Business Minister Mark Prisk, said: “Businesses tell us they want to get advice from other experienced business people and we know that those seeking support are more likely to succeed.
“Mentoring can deliver significant economic benefits from just a small commitment of time and resources. Building a relationship with a mentor can have a positive effect on your business, whether you are just starting up or are already established.
“Boosting the number of mentors by another 10,000 will help more businesses get this valuable help and broaden the range of experienced people available through the online service.”
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A range of private sector project partners including Institute of Directors, British Chambers of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses and the Forum of Private Business are providing further support and time contributions worth up to an estimated £3.7m.
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The Federation of Small Businesses’ National Chairman John Walker said: "We welcome involvement in this project. Mentoring is an extremely useful tool for all firms, and we know that start-ups that receive mentoring support are more likely to survive.
“It is important that mentors come from all walks of life, including those that have run successful small businesses, so that they can offer a wide range of experience from different sectors for businesses to get the best out of their knowledge."
The announcement comes during Global Entrepreneurship Week – a week of events designed promote enterprise across the UK and internationally.
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Susie Hughes © Shout99 2011
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