One of the businesses shortlisted for the Mentorsme Enterprise Mentoring Awards was Fanatic House, a design studio based in Loughborough, founded by Design and Applied Arts Graduate Dorota Grabkowska, and dedicated to creating everyday objects with a strong, distinctive character. The business was shortlisted for the Excellence in Export & Innovation Award.

The IOEE helped Dorota source a volunteer bank mentor to support her with the next phase of the business' development.

The business' products are designed with a strong focus on their innovative forms which means that conventional construction techniques are impractical. For the past 18 months the challenge has been for the business to develop a number of these innovative designs from idea into functioning products ready for the 2014 London Design Festival in September.

Dorota has been mentored by banker Carl Beardon, who helped her navigate from prototype to design to exhibition stage. Along the way challenges on product protection and distribution were tackled and overcome resulting in two finished designs - a coat stand and lamp shade. The products were exhibited at the London Design Festival leading to opportunities with four companies and the possibility of product placement in Next and John Lewis.

With new products in development Carl’s support is welcomed by Dorota who says:

“Carl’s support and level of understanding has been exceptional, which was the key in identifying and overcoming issues as they arose. With his experience I have become self sufficient working through the challenges my business faces and to identify new business partners who have exporting experience.”

Meanwhile Carl has also benefited from working with a young design business for the first time, he says:

“The key skill I have taken from this experience is true active listening. I have applied those skills at home and at work and I am finding the results are having a lasting impact.”

Interested in sourcing a volunteer bank mentor?

The IOEE helps match bank mentors with businesses in four regions; the North East, Yorkshire, West Midlands and the Thames Valley. The bank mentors offer wide-ranging business experience and expertise in areas such as finance, marketing or exports, and can act as your trusted confidant over a flexible period of time. We help you clarify what you can and cannot expect from them.

The nationwide scheme is part of the Better Business Finance programme, which was set up by five high street banks: Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Bank of Scotland and Santander, and is overseen by the British Bankers Association (BBA).

For more information contact: Paul Harper for the North East, Yorkshire and Christine Dryden for the West Midlands and Thames Valley. Elsewhere in the UK? Visit Mentorsme.co.uk to find the contact in your region.