It can be daunting starting your own business or changing your business direction - we can help
The Mentor Academy, Reading Business Club’s initiative to give business owners the benefit of its members’ expertise for six months, is open to applicants.
If you have a start-up business idea, want to change your business direction or have reached a plateau and would like free expert advice to move forward, then you could benefit from the Reading Business Mentor Academy’s programme. Mentees only commitment is payment for breakfasts.
If selected you will enjoy advice and support across a range of business disciplines as well as benefiting from the experiences of Reading Business Club members, each with many years’ experience of starting, developing and managing their own business.
If you are determined to succeed in business and wish to be considered for the next mentoring programme please send an mail to enquiries@readingbusinessclub.com including some background on why you would like to apply for the mentoring scheme and a telephone number we can contact you on.
Your commitment to the programme is regular attendance at both club meetings and mentoring sessions and a financial contribution towards breakfast.
Since January 2007 many local businesses have completed the six-month programme, here’s what some previous mentees said about their experience of the Mentor Academy:
“The techniques and the useful contacts I made help in the running of the business. I now have a business plan! But also I find I have much greater confidence in running the business and am less worried about the future; whatever happens, I feel I can deal with it.”
Brian Moffatt, Petrophase
“Thanks to the Mentor Academy we’ve been put in touch with professionals who can shine a light where it’s needed.”
Les Bennett, LP Bennett Building and Brickwork
“By being part of the Mentor Programme I have learnt so much about “best practice” for running a business, as well as becoming much more streamlined in the work I do – i.e. saying NO to the things I was doing that were taking me a lot of time and not creating a lot of revenue. This was a hard learning curve for me but hugely valuable to my work/life balance and bank balance!”
Ellie Gosling, Barnes Fitness
“I was completely new to business and had no commercial/business experience. RBC provided the support of people with a wide knowledge of business.
I particularly liked pressure of needing to do things by next meeting – as an ex teacher it felt like good homework.”
Sherrie Tuhey, Art Jam Studio
I felt a little overwhelmed at the first business club meeting. Then I saw everyone as business people but heard banter and not realised they weren’t stiff or starched. They gave me confidence to believe in what I had planned.
One of the most useful things was that when I asked what do you think I should do? They didn’t me their answer but gave confidence to make my own decisions with their support. I felt committed to my own success in part because I didn’t feel I could let people down because they were giving their time and advice.
The mentors I worked with were always very quick to respond. They Challenged my thinking e.g. should I be a mobile business or work from premises – they helped me make the right decision. Once I had made the decision of taking on premises it gave me the drive to see it through.
I don’t believe I would be where I am today if I hadn’t been part of RBC and on the mentoring programme.
I would recommend the RBC mentoring programme to anyone thinking about starting a business or simply wanting to change something about their existing business.“
Sherrie Tuhey, Art Jam Studio
Hear about Kallie’s experience during her time at the Reading Business Club’s mentoring academy.
Go for it!
It all begins with an idea.
Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world.
Whatever it is, the mentoring academy can help.
Upcoming events.
Come along and see what we’re all about!
We welcome visitors to 2 free meetings where you can enjoy a delicious full English breakfast or juicy fruit platter.
Each meeting is different and you will have plenty of opportunity to network, build contacts as well as ask for support.