Merlin - pure wizardry for SMEs
Anyone who’s set up their own business before knows that additional support from people with experience, knowledge and contacts can often be the difference between a successful company or not and a Finance South East and Enterprise Network programme – called Merlin – is proving to be pure wizardry for technology entrepreneurs in South East England.
Finance South East, in partnership with the Enterprise Hub network in the South East and Leadershape Ltd, are currently in the process of delivering Merlin, which a three-year programme aimed at building a community of high calibre mentors for high growth, knowledge-based entrepreneurs.
Merlin is a free scheme for the companies being mentored and is co-financed by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and the European Social Fund (ESF).
Enterprise Hubs are at the forefront of the Merlin project, as Hub Director, Ed Cooper, explains: “Business mentoring is regarded as a crucial aspect of this and the purpose of Merlin is to complement the other services provided in the SEEDA region by matching high profile, skilled mentors with fast growing businesses and entrepreneurs.”
The specific aim of the Merlin project is to build a community of 60 high calibre mentors supporting 250 entrepreneurs in the South East over a three-year period.
“At the very least mentors need to have been successful and hands-on with an SME technology business of their own,” says Teri Carnegie, Lead Network Facilitator with the Merlin Project Team at Finance South East. “We require them to have board level experience and they must satisfy us that they have the time available, not just for the mentoring but for the executive coaching that comes with the role and their responsibility.”
She expands: “Mentoring is a skill in itself that can be learned and enhanced and Merlin mentors are required to undertake our high-level 12-month executive coaching programme which includes an intensive two and a half day skills induction course, peer group action learning, one-to-one coaching and structured reading skills.”
“By achieving these goals, it’s a virtuous circle,” says Ed Cooper.
“Knowing how true entrepreneurs operate, we can expect today’s learners to be tomorrow’s mentors in years to come.”
For small but ambitious companies interested in joining the Newbury Enterprise Hub, please contact Ed Cooper: edcooper@newburyhub.co.uk or telephone 01635 500301.
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Revision Number: 0.1 Created: 12/07/2005 12:23:10 Modified: 12/07/2005 12:23:10