The Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) Growth Hub and its Manchester equivalent have become the first regions in the country to pilot a mentoring initiative developed by Be the Business, which launched Thursday 15th March.
The free pilot programme pairs mentors from some of the UK’s biggest companies – including BAE Systems, Siemens, GSK and Sharing in Growth – with regional business leaders from the manufacturing sector. Over the course of six months, mentors will offer personal expertise, inspiration and practical advice on a one-to-one basis, from decision-making and business planning to talent acquisition and risk management, to help firms become more productive and overcome any potential barriers to economic growth.
Saqib Bhatti, Director for Growing Businesses and Representing SMEs at GBSLEP, said:
“The GBSLEP Growth Hub was founded to make it easier for companies in our region to seek the right support in order to fulfil their growth potential. Working with Be the Business and the Business Growth Hub in Manchester, this new pilot programme provides firms across Greater Birmingham and Solihull with free personal coaching from a leader of a globally successful business, who might hold the key to unlocking better economic performance.
“The prosperity of small and medium-sized businesses in our region is crucial to our overall economic success. Our mentees will take advantage of the wealth of experience at their disposal both through one-to-one and virtual sessions.”
The mentoring project is the brainchild of Be the Business, a new business-led organisation created to close the UK’s productivity gap. Chaired by Sir Charlie Mayfield, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, Be the Business is spearheading a business-led drive to help companies across the UK improve their performance.
Tony Danker, Chief Executive, Be the Business, said:
“Mentoring is a fantastic way for some of the UK’s most productive companies to share what works with business owners in Greater Birmingham and Manchester. Improving management skills and learning how to best engage with employees can create huge improvements for businesses, and these are some of the skills the mentors will pass on to companies in the pilot programmes.”
The sessions – which are free for companies – will initially be held face-to-face, with future meetings in Greater Birmingham & Solihull taking place through virtual platforms. There will be 36 mentors across both Greater Birmingham & Solihull and Manchester, supporting 43 mentees.
Arunima Dhar, Advanced Manufacturing Programme Lead, GSK, said:
“Having had the luxury of mentors at GSK, I personally know how valuable their advice can be. I often reach out to my mentors to bounce ideas, learn from their varied experiences. Manchester and the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Growth Hubs have been our partners since the inception of this idea and I am delighted to see the pilot come to fruition. I am sure our mentees and mentors will mutually benefit from this experience.”