By ELLEN READ
Free mentoring services for small businesses are starting the year in good shape, thanks to a Christmas present from the Government.
Economic Development Minister Jim Anderton announced last month that $500,000 was being allocated - via New Zealand Trade and Enterprise - to provide more small and medium-size enterprises
(SMEs) with coaching and mentoring.
The services involved are Business in the Community (BITC) and Company Rebuilders - a nationwide mentoring trust of retired chief executives who work on new business start ups, preserving fledgling SMEs and assisting business that have problems.
Anderton said the extra money for the services was the result of good feedback that had been received on their activities.
In the past BITC had relied on private funding and its chief executive Ray Schofield said the extra money would go towards a professional development programme for mentors, developing the website (www.businessmentor.org.nz) and hosting a national conference in March.
"We are pleased the Government has acknowledged the importance of business mentoring and Business In The Community as a long-term principal mentoring partner," he said.
On average, BITC has mentored more than 9000 businesses in the past two years - representing 36,000 hours of professional business advice provided free by business mentors each year.
Schofield said SMEs made up a significant part of New Zealand's economy and accounted for 35.6 per cent of the country's economic output.
"We continue to seek new private sector business patrons to support an initiative that is unique and adds significant benefits to the community through the successful growth and wealth generation that the mentor generates for SME clients."
