Enterprise and Innovation
Business Mentor Bank
Mentors discuss how best to assist local businesses in developing their management skills
"Feasibility study into the provision of a mentoring service for small businesses"
The research sought to identify good practice in existing mentoring services across the United Kingdom, to gauge the need for such a service in Leicestershire and test with small business on what would make it work.
Organisation: Centre for Enterprise
Completion Date: 31/01/2004
Location
Leicestershire
Project Description
The development of managers and leaders is an important issue at the local level. A mentoring service works towards this development using local talent for local businesses - Peter Howe, Research & Policy Analyst, Centre for Enterprise
Background
The Centre for Enterprise (CfE) was appointed in June 2003 by the Leicester Shire Economic Partnership (LSEP) to undertake a research project to explore the feasibility of providing a MentorBank Service to small businesses within Leicestershire.
MentorBank Services have been used successfully in other areas and have shown capacity to generate a positive impact upon small businesses and the local economy.
The research assessed:
• The needs of local small businesses with regard to mentoring;
• Whether a MentorBank would add value to current business support
arrangements; and
• Options for a suitable delivery model.
Research details
The project comprised desk-based and field research. The desk-based research examined current mentoring programmes, good practice around mentoring and mentoring requirements. The field research included qualitative interviews with ten local, small businesses to explore the potential need for such a facility and to examine how it could work.
This was followed by a focus group of five owner-managers to test perceptions of a MentorBank service and assess potential responses.
Outcomes
Service demand
The research concluded that firstly there is a demand for a MentorBank facility, albeit limited, among small businesses. Secondly, there is evidence to suggest this demand is not being met because of a lack of co-ordination between the needs of businesses and the availability of suitable mentors.
Future plans
In light of the research reports findings, the LSEP has provided funding for the Centre for Enterprise to establish and manage a Leicestershire MentorBank service for two years. Within this time, 50 mentors will be trained to assist 100 companies in meeting their management development needs.
Project Contacts
Project manager:
Peter Howe
Tel: 0116 229 3300
E-mail: peter.howe@centreforenterprise.co.uk
Website: www.centreforenterprise.co.uk
LSEP contact:
Niloofar Sarkari
Tel: 0116 257 5678
E-mail: niloofars@lsep.co.uk
Website: www.lsep.co.uk
