As clients set up and begin running their businesses, we can match them with a suitable mentor armed with realistic, practical information and knowledge to help take them through the highs and lows of business ownership.
Through the Outset Mentorbank, we select, train and mobilise a wide range of external mentors. For example, in Norfolk we generated over 2,100 hours of mentoring from the local business community within nine months – leveraging a commercial value which far exceeded the level of public funding for the entire programme.
Giving back
We also ask appropriate clients, once their businesses are established and thriving, if they too will give back some of their time and experience, either through giving a specialist workshop to pass on their knowledge to help others or to mentor new clients on the Outset programme.
Chris Heirani is just one example of this. Since starting his own web design business through Outset, Chris has given up his time to run an ‘Ask the Expert’ event for other clients who are already trading, giving them the opportunity to learn more about the importance of good web design for their businesses.
Read his story here.
Those that volunteer go through our mentor training programme before being matched with clients. They provide an invaluable and highly accessible source of role models and mentoring expertise for future entrepreneurs.