Business leaders tell of two-way benefits of mentoring
REWARDING EXPERIENCE: Rob Daysley
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A pioneering youth enterprise project in Hull is strengthening its links with the regional business community to increase the support for young entrepreneurs who are trying to turn their ideas into action.
Hull City Council's Youth Enterprise Team has secured the backing of business mentors to help young entrepreneurs aged 16 to 29 who are current or former participants of its Making Changes for Careers programme (MC4C).
Now the mentors are sharing their messages about the initiative, including the two-way learning process which is bringing benefits for all concerned.
Rob Daysley, founder of Designs Signage Solutions, said: “Mentoring young entrepreneurs at MC4C has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Supporting passionate and driven individuals as they develop their ideas and grow in confidence is both inspiring and fulfilling.
“As a mentor, I aim to share practical knowledge, offer encouragement, and help them navigate the ups and downs of their entrepreneurial journey. It’s more than just giving advice – it’s about building meaningful relationships, fostering growth, and being part of a community that empowers young people to reach their full potential and make a lasting impact".
LISTENING AND SHARING: Helen Gill and Harrison McLauchlin
Helen Gill, owner of HelloU Marketing, said: “My message to anybody about mentoring is do it! You don’t need to have all the answers – mentoring is about listening, sharing your experiences, and being a sounding board.
“It’s one of the most fulfilling ways to give back, and the impact you can have on someone’s journey is huge. You’ll also grow and learn alongside your mentee, making it a truly enriching experience.”
Helen highlighted her work with Harrison McLauchlin, whose business HKMA Media is trading as EZ-Biz.
She said: “Working with Harrison has been great. He’s so driven and curious, which makes mentoring him really rewarding. We’ve been working on defining his purpose, setting goals, and creating a business model canvas for his business.
“I’ve challenged him to think beyond the expected and to explore future trends that will help him stand out and position his business as forward-thinking. Harrison has started sharing his journey on LinkedIn, which is fantastic to see – it shows how confident he’s becoming and how willing he is to inspire others by sharing his progress.
“I adapt my time to Harrison’s needs. We have regular meetings to work on his plans and goals, but I’m also available whenever he has questions or needs guidance. It’s less about a strict schedule and more about being there when he needs support.”
SUPPORT: Brooke Peacham and Julie Buffey
Julie Buffey, who set up the Roisin Dubh vintage shop in Hull’s Hepworth’s Arcade in 2009, has been passing her experience to Brooke Peacham, owner of The Cutie Paws dog clothing and accessories stall in Trinity Market.
Julie said: “Brooke is a very creative individual and confident in the running of her business. My support has been to listen and sign post to pathways I have found beneficial, such as selling online and through various networks.
“It’s very challenging in the current economic climate but Brooke remains very positive. I’m proud of how well she’s doing and as a mentor this is the greatest reward.”
Brooke added: “Julie has been really helpful. She is always encouraging and positive and happy to help me. I really value her advice as she has a lot of experience.”
Glenn Smurthwaite, managing director of PBS Construction, is new to mentoring and sees parallels with his company’s training programmes.
He said: “I offer to meet up with participants in person or talk over the phone. I want to help them progress in the correct way with the right quality of work, honesty and have integrity.
“It’s about passing on knowledge to others. Everyone has to start somewhere and it’s good to see younger people progress. As a company, this is the ethos we create with apprentices too. It’s a privilege to be asked to be a mentor.”
Amanda Brockwell, Youth Enterprise and Micro Business Advisor at MC4C, said the organisation is reaching out now to fill gaps in the skills of the mentors
She said: “Volunteering time to help others at the start of their business career in Hull is extremely valuable.
“We have two levels of mentoring which business people can apply to assist with, and it doesn’t have to involve committing a lot of time. Knowledge Collective is a non-commitment mentoring in which the participant of the programme may ask some questions about your skills and experience.
“A business or wellbeing mentor gives ongoing support over the phone, via Teams or in person on a weekly check-in basis. It might be a quick half an hour chat and check-ins for five minutes, or you may wish to meet monthly for a cuppa in a public place.
“Being an entrepreneur can be very lonely so wellbeing support is also vital for some, whilst others will only require a business mentor. Giving back and helping others on their journey is extremely rewarding.”
To find out more about becoming a mentor contact amanda.brockwell@hullcc.gov.uk