22 March 2007: First candidate starts mentoring programme

L.P. Bennett Building and Brickwork of Woodley in Reading, run by husband and wife team Les and Pam Bennett, is the first company to benefit from the Reading Business’s Club (RBC) Mentor Academy.

The Mentor Academy is a new RBC initiative to give business owners the benefit of its members’ expertise. The Bennett’s programme began in March and will continue until September 2007.

Les Bennett has been working for himself for 30 years as a bricklayer and now as professional builder specialising in residential extensions, alterations and new house builds for small to medium property developers. “We all get older and I’d like to do less on site and move over to a project management role,” he said, explaining the reasons behind the company’s application to join the Mentor Academy.

“We knew we needed independent advice to make the transition and liked the idea of learning from RBC members, who all run small businesses themselves just like us.”

Each mentoring programme runs for six months and is open to any business, from start-ups unclear about how to progress their new business ideas to established businesses needing expert advice on how to move forward.

Successful applicants enjoy advice and support across a range of business disciplines from RBC members, each of them with many years’ experience of managing their own small business.

Applications are invited for the next mentoring programme, which is due to start in October 2007. Details may be downloaded here. The final date for the receipt of applications for the October 2007 placement is Sunday 30 September.