IOEE and Lloyds Banking Group have worked together to develop, pilot and implement exciting new CPD modules, equipping existing mentors with specific skills to deal with the challenges small businesses often face.

Once a mentor is qualified, their development should continue. New learning enriches the mentoring service they offer, bringing to it greater and more valuable insight. Over the past few years, IOEE has worked closely with Lloyds Banking Group to develop and pilot a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training programme for those who have already gained mentoring accreditation. During the pilot, the two organisations have been successful in training over 100 mentors, all of whom have gained skills that will aid them in their mentoring and 70% of whom will also use those same skills in their regular jobs.
Now, this new training programme will give other existing mentors the opportunity to enhance their mentoring, enabling them to provide higher quality help and support to many UK entrepreneurs. There are three subject areas, each of which responds to one key challenge businesses face – how to create a strong web strategy (Hacking A Web Strategy), financing (Show Me The Money) and making time to grow an enterprise (Working On Your Business, Not In It). Each module is contained within a day-long workshop and, following completion of all three, participants are awarded a Level 5 IOEE qualification.

Business Mentors South West were the first to pilot the modules, which are a lively, engaging mix of group exercises, case studies and discussion. Andy Copp, Director at Business Mentors South West said:

“The workshops have been put together specifically for business mentors by practicing business mentors with much experience mentoring smaller businesses in the subject area. The days are packed with practical hints and tips on how to use the workshop content and knowledge in live client situations.”

One participant, after attending the Show Me The Money workshop, said:
“I have gained an essential and educational learning and skill set focussed on financing, to meet new and small businesses’ needs.”

Another felt that the experience had opened up new approaches to financing small business, which they would be able to call upon in mentoring scenarios:

“The whole day was very valuable in terms of sharing experiences/learning about alternate options for funding”

The modules are now available for other business mentoring organisations to offer to their clients, something IOEE is very excited about. Sarah Trouten, Chief Executive at IOEE, said:

“These exceptional modules have been designed specifically to give mentors the knowhow they need to enrich the support they can provide to their SME clients. Working with Lloyds on the modules’ content has been a great process, combining IOEE’s mentoring training expertise and the bank’s commitment to nurturing the UK’s SME community.”

If you would like to learn more about the new CPD modules and offer them as part of your organisation’s mentor training, get in touch today.