Volunteer Mentors Wanted
New Enterprise Allowance scheme has been created to help people who have 
previously been claiming Job Seekers Allowance, to start up in business with the help of business mentoring.
Chamber members, The Let's Do Business Group has been awarded a contract to manage the Mentoring Scheme in Surrey and Sussex, along with the Loan funds in the South. Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce is helping to recruit a team of experienced business people to act as mentors.
The volunteer mentors will have suitable business experience, and also the usual "soft skills" - the mentoring commitment is likely to be -
- 6 hours for the initial 8 weeks to completion of the business plan
- 1 hour per month for 26 weeks following start-up of the business
- The mentoring is on a volunteer basis
- The meetings will take place on the mentor's premises or other suitable public place
Mentor Role Description
- To provide encouragement and promote confidence and self esteem with the client regarding their own capabilities in relation to business start-up
- To have an understanding of the barriers clients may face when looking to start a business
- To work with the customer to produce a business plan which demonstrates viability and sustainability
- To discuss with the Lets Do Business Group (LDBG) Project Manager any referral/signposting you consider would be beneficial to the client
- To provide support, advice and signposting to enhance the clients' knowledge of business start-up
- To use a mentoring pace and style appropriate to the client
- To advise the LDBG Project Manager of any concerns regarding the clients' ability to produce a business plan within an 8 week period
- To provide continuing support for 6 months following start up to assist the business growth
- The mentor is not expected or encouraged to invest in the client business
For more information, please contact:
Kaye.crittell@ldbgroup.co.uk
Worthing and Adur Chamber on 01273 203484
tina.tilley@worthingandadurchamber.co.uk
