Mentoring means you get support from someone who knows exactly what it's like to run a rural business, who can share their experience to enable you to develop your business, deal with issues or answer questions. They're there to help you to do it for yourself, by using different tasks and ways of thinking to get you motivated. Due to the nature of the relationship you build with a mentor you usually end up friends, as you both benefit from the long term exchange.
Business Start Ups
If you are thinking about setting up in business then a mentor can support you through the Start Up phase by providing valuable insights and wisdom gained from going through the procedure themselves. They can help you formulate your idea and boost your confidence to get you to the point of taking a Start Up course or writing a Business Plan.
Existing Businesses
If you feel your business has reached stale mate or you are interested in taking it to the next stage, a mentor can support you by acting as a sounding board and reality check for your ideas and growth strategies. They will be able to use their experience to provide you with the right information to suit your needs, whether that is furthering your skills or writing a growth plan with the support of a Business Gateway advisor.
Case Study: Red Kite Yurts
Has been established for just over a year and is a small business hand crafting Mongolian Yurts from Scottish hard woods to create a premium product with lasting quality. Creativity and building relationships is owner Paul Millard's strength however managing the quick growth of his business has been the focus of his work with his mentor Keith; who has been working with Paul on creating systems to manage forecasting and costs.
From his involvement with TERMS, Paul is also receiving support from Kit Out the Park, a technology based project that supports businesses with consultancy support if their business idea fits in with an economic growth prospect for the National Park.