Mentors add value to everyday business

27 November 2013 - For Immediate Release

Mentors add value to everyday business

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For the last two years, Enterprise Great Lake Taupō has been working with Business Mentors NZ to offer a support and development service to local businesses.  Given the resounding success and interest in the scheme, they are now seeking more local business people to become mentors.

“Business mentors provide clients with independent, impartial support,” explains Anne Battersby,  local Business Mentors Coordinator.  “They can offer a fresh perspective, inspiration or simply a sounding board to bounce ideas off for growing your business.”

“Mentors act as a confidential and professional guide,” she says.  “An empathetic person to listen to the challenges and difficulties you face.  Sometimes this alone is all that’s needed to identify strategies and opportunities for growth.”

Local mentors and mentored businesses are positive about the programme, with many being recognised as finalists and winners at the 2013 Great Lake Taupō Business Awards.

Mentor Philip King says that he’s enjoyed being able to share his experiences with others, and help them fulfil their potential.

“In business it is often hard to see the wood from the trees,” says Philip.  “Having a fresh set of eyes sit alongside a business owner, and provide guidance to help you implement change and improvements can make a really big difference.”

“What’s more, the kind of support and advice we offer isn’t often available from attending a business course or workshop,” says Philip.

Philip has mentored local business owners Sharon & Derek Newton (Liquorland Taupō) for two years.

“Having Philip as our mentor has been great,” says Sharon.  “We’ve been in this business for years, we’re part of a national group that offers plenty of training and support, and we’ve been recognised with a few awards along the way.  However, we have still benefited from having someone with Philip’s experience, perspective and business nous challenging us on the way we operate.”

“In fact, we are so supportive of this programme that we have recently become Business Mentors ourselves and we’re now sharing our skills and experiences with other small Taupō businesses,” said Sharon.

Therein lies the novelty of this programme says Anne.

“Our mentors and clients develop a great bond,” says Anne.  “This often continues long after the formal mentor relationship has ceased, and it’s so great to see people like Derek and Sharon then stepping up to become Mentors themselves.”

If you are an experienced business person who understands small business and would like to give something back to your community and the small business sector through sharing your business knowledge and experience, then Anne invites you to contact her to discuss volunteer mentoring through the Business Mentors scheme.

“Our mentors need to be experienced business people from either small or large business environments,” explains Anne.  “They may have senior management experience in a corporate environment or have successfully operated their own business.  What’s most important however is empathy for small business operators and entrepreneurs and a genuine desire to assist.” 

Business Mentors must be available at least four hours per month for mentoring assignments. Contact Anne at anne@greatlaketaupo.biz

ENDS

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