Thank you to everyone who has offered their feedback to encourage and educate others of the benefits of 1 to 1 and Group mentoring.

"...I would like to take this opportunity to say an enormous thank you for putting me through the membership program. It has been a fantastic journey for me and the things I have learnt about myself and my business; the list is endless. I feel totally re-energised and re-focused in comparison with the person I was six months ago."

www.carolineoates.com

"Thoroughly enjoyed the introductory session for what promises to be an informative and productive group. Felt that the group composed entirely of women enabled frank and meaningful discussions from the start. Looking forward to the next session."

Name of Mentee: Karen Livesey

Name of Mentor: Geoffrey Prince

How has mentoring benefited you as the mentee?

"Mentoring has made me focus on my strengths and weaknesses and identify practical ways that I can develop, this in turn has able me to be more effective in my role and has aided my organisations progress and professionalism. I have looked at time management, personal development, networking and increasing contacts and management of staff. Conversations with my mentor around these subjects have helped me to discuss my concerns and difficulties through a non-work related relationship and gain valuable advice from an experienced professional."

Karen Livesey www.vcawirral.org.uk

How has mentoring benefited you as the mentor?

"I have found that mentoring into the public sector a little different to that of mentoring and coaching in the private sector; I think because there is a cultural difference in the two. However, I am very pleased with what I have gained from it in my own development and understanding."

Geoffrey Prince

“It’s good to meet with like-minded people who inspire you. So much happens in a month, so the regular meetings keep you focussed. You get lots of emotional support here and we talk about personal stuff as well as business stuff. I definitely feel more confident, and have learnt to trust the group.”

"Although I have only met my mentor twice, I have already seen the benefits to myself and fruit to suit. The matching process was obviously very thorough as the match between my own personal needs and my mentor were excellent. Spot on!

Setting up and running your own business can be a very lonely and frustrating experience. You have to learn and develop new skills that are way out of your comfort zone. Family and friends, with the best will in the world, do not really understand and tell you 'Oh, you'll be fine!' before their eyes start to glaze over! It's when they start to dribble - I know I've lost them!!

It's fantastic to be able to talk with someone who does understand as they has already been through the problems and issues themselves. It's not necessarily that I am looking for answers - quite often just talking something through with someone makes everything clearer.

I do think that the Mentoring Programme is excellent and I would love to be able to return the favour and be a mentor one day in the future."

www.fruittosuit.co.uk

“I’ve found it immensely beneficial to have a few hours out every month to discuss my business and get some peer feedback.”

“I have really enjoyed the mentoring sessions and felt they had a positive impact on me as a leader. I have learnt some great strategies to take my business forward.”

“Yes I met up with Cathy in December for the first time and the experience was nothing short of wonderful. I know that I am going to benefit so much from our relationship. We are due to meet up again this month and I’m really looking forward to it..."

www.sensorytoywarehouse.co.uk

"Thank you for a fab session this morning. I really enjoyed it and it was so nice to meet people with the same issues as me. I go to a lot of networking events and I often have to sell myself and hide the fact that I’m not great at everything, but this morning it was like that barrier was broken down and I was able to be honest and say I needed help. Sometimes just getting that off your chest lightens the load!

I am really looking forward to meeting my mentor in the hope that I’ll be able to do open up more often and focus on what really needs to be done to grow my business."

www.clancyconnection.co.uk

"Being part of the Mentoring Programme has helped me to articulate my passion for my work clearly and with pride. I am more focused on my Core Business now, and feel a greater sense of ownership of my work. The group and Elaine, as facilitator, have been a real "mastermind" group, offering support and insights."

"The business mentoring programme has been invaluable for me as a business leader. It built on my strengths and I learnt a huge amount. It helped me gaining the confidence, developing skills and building networks. The programme has enable me to clearly identify and set the goals I want to achieve, the direction I want to give to my business, and the means to make my business successful."

“The course covered a particularly difficult period of business. Without the support and knowledge acquired from the course I believe that the business may well have failed.”

“Delighted to let you know that Ben and I finally started our mentoring journey today. We have signed the form and I will forward this to you. We can both see how this mentoring relationship can work - and had lots of ideas to share. I am really excited about the prospect of being part of Ben’s ongoing success!”

“We had a very good meeting and he now has me joining the 21st century in terms of Facebook, Linked In, etc. We shall be setting targets at our next meeting.”

"The mentoring programme helps because it keeps me on my toes by being accountable to someone. It also helps me by encouraging me to plan on a monthly cycle."

"I've reassessed my priorities and make better use of my day now. I plan my work over a longer time frame and allow more wiggle room. All the work gets done but now with more focus on the overall result and not just individual tasks. Thanks Elaine!"

"I always feel re-energised and motivated after our sessions!"

"The session was both enjoyable & beneficial – a good mix of business ladies!"