For the last few months our founder, Aileen Boyle, has been a mentor for the Help to Grow : Management programme a Government-backed initiative. This is a national programme and Aileen is part of the programme at Help to Grow: Management – Strathclyde Business School.

The programme has responsible business at its core, a value Fortro uses to drive clients’ organisations forward. The programme is also designed to be manageable alongside full time work. It’s important Leaders see the value of investing their time and not just their money. The programme covers Strategy & Innovation, International Markets, Employee Engagement and Finance to name a few.

Aileen is mentoring 4 brilliant leaders of cohort 1, as they navigate the 12 week programme. The mentees are made up of business owners to senior managements. And their businesses are from different sectors. However they are united in their ambition for growth. They are also united in their desire to pull together a growth action plan that will give them the direction, framework and outcomes to help achieve the desired growth.

As mentor, Aileen’s role is to guide and support mentees in putting into place their learning on the programme, identify ways of achieving business growth, all with a focus to developing a tangible, achievable Growth Action Plan. Aileen’s role is to help facilitate mentees engagement in appropriate business development activities, and help identify barriers to success and ways to overcome them.

Research has shown that 70% of small businesses that receive mentoring survive for five years or more, which is double the rate compared with non-mentored entrepreneurs. ( FSB). Moreover, a recent survey by the UK’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills found that 94% of SMEs using external support have seen benefits. These firms are more ambitious and have higher relative turnovers. ( National Mentoring Day). With increasing pressure on senior management and leaders to progress growth plans, support teams and still engage with the market, executive mentoring is one of the ways Fortro is supporting those who appreciate the value and the positive impact an external perspective brings.

Mentoring may be something your organisation is considering implementing, or indeed are looking to review. If so, let’s talk about how Fortro could provide insight into how you and your colleagues would benefit from a tailored programme.

p.s. For more info for more information on this national programme click this link.