One farmer that has benefited from the support of the Get Mentoring in Farming scheme is Mark Lee, whose journey to the industry initially saw him travel the world as an international sportsman and soldier. As captain of the Scotland Sevens team, the British Army and the Combined Services, Mark Lee played rugby all over […]
Author Archives: Sophie Hardwick
Mentoring’s A Gift For Present Retailer
Tracy Ackroyd runs perfectlyperfectpresents.com, a retail site selling handpicked and often handmade gifts for women and children. As well as jewellery and accessories, the online store stocks home and garden gifts, wedding gifts, children’s books and toys. As someone who has already worked with a start-up mentor and is now on the lookout for a […]
“Ultimately, I want to be the market leader. That’s my big ambition” – Clare Garner Shares Her Entrepreneurial Journey So Far
Clare Garner is someone very ambitious. Her determination saw her overcome the adversity of her partner Gus breaking his neck just as she was establishing Prestige, a cost management business. Now, aged just 28, Clare says she’s always been convinced she’d have business success: “I’ve always been really entrepreneurial and known I’d have my own […]
Showcasing Best Practice And Innovation In Learning And Skills
Small business ownership of learning and skills is a hot topic at the moment. From apprenticeship frameworks to undergraduate modules, businesses are being asked to lead the discussion to ensure that learning and qualifications meet the needs of industry. This need has been demonstrated through new initiatives introduced by the government to facilitate greater employer […]
Pioneering Programme Helps Businesses Win The Generation Game
A pioneering new training programme launched in the North East has been lauded as an example of best practice at a House of Commons event earlier this month. The event was called Fuller Working Lives and was hosted by the Department for Work and Pensions. The training programme helps businesses deal with age differences in the […]
Mentor Brings Hands On Experience To Role
Sandra Anne Kelly (pictured, right) supports new and growing businesses in Glasgow and came along to the Glasgow Meet A Mentor event in January, after spotting it on Twitter, to network, meet fellow mentors, and potentially meet a business to support as a volunteer mentor. With 25 years experience in retail, and direct experience of […]
SFEDI Champions High Quality Support for Small Businesses at LEP Conference
Ruth Lowbridge, Executive Chair of SFEDI, joined speakers at the LEP Annual Conference this week, which brought together Local Enterprise Partnerships from across the country. Ruth spoke about the importance of high quality business support for small businesses and urged the LEPs to think about how they can support skills development and collaborative working. For your […]
Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act receives Royal Assent
Measures designed to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business have become law following Royal Assent for the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act being given today (26 March 2015). The wide-ranging Act paves the way for businesses to get improved access to finance, creates fairer provision […]
Teresa’s Life Changing Business Gains Mentoring Boost
We met Teresa Norris at the Cardiff Meet a Mentor, where she shared her story and chatted about why she would like to find a mentor. Teresa started her business, Release and Be Free, to share life-changing therapies with other people. The former nurse had suffered from debilitating ME and fibromyalgia for a number of […]
Entrepreneur & Mum Gets Inspiration At Meet A Mentor
Jackie Van Baren, 33, is both an entrepreneur and a mum to an energetic 18-month-old. She started JVB Connect, a virtual assistant business in August 2014, and as well as attending Meet a Mentor Cardiff, has also become an area co-ordinator for Biz Mums so that she can host her own meetings. We caught up with Jackie to […]