Demand soars for mentoring

By ELLEN READ

Business in the Community says demand for its business mentors rose 61 per cent in the first four months of this financial year, as businesses flocked to take advantage of the free service.

The figure builds on mentoring help given to 3757 small businesses in the year to March 31 by the organisation's 1200 mentors.

The New Zealand branch of Business in the Community was set up in 1991.

Through its network of mentors - experienced business people willing to donate time and skills - the organisation aims to develop fragile new businesses into strong competitors.

The service matches mentors with small business operators needing help with issues ranging from management, sales and marketing, finance and accountancy to contract negotiations.

Thanking the patrons and mentors who donate time and skills with an estimated value of nearly $3 million a year will be top of the agenda at today's Business in the Community annual meeting.

"We're just so grateful to them," said the organisation's chief executive, Sarah Trotman.

The non-profit organisation's other aims for the year include:

* Enabling mentors to report back through the internet.

* Presenting 20 seminars across the country next March.

* Taking the message from the Knowledge Wave conference in August out to small businesses.

* Lobbying for Government funding.

Ms Trotman said: "I feel that we're reasonably close to having something resolved [with the Government] and I would be disappointed if they didn't come to the party."

The organisation is moving on Friday to new premises at the AUT Technology Park.