18 . Glasgow Business February 2015
Chamber
training online
www.glasgow chamberof
commerce.com/ training
Buzzing about mentoring W
» How business-growth support is helping to deliver Plan Bee
hether you are a relatively new business or have ambitious plans
to grow your existing business, working with a mentor can be just the kick-start you need. Glasgow Chamber works in partnership with Business Mentoring Scotland to add value to its members’ businesses by offering this crucial business growth tool. Delivered by Scotish
Chambers of Commerce in partnership with Scotish Enterprise, Business Mentoring is provided at zero cost to mentored businesses. One of the more unique and socially minded businesses to take advantage of mentoring in recent years is Glasgow Chamber member Plan Bee Ltd. Plan Bee leases bee hives to businesses and produce and sell a variety of products made with the beeswax – including honey, candles, fudge and, in the near future, craſt beer. Owner Warren Bader not only
aims to grow a profitable, ethical and sustainable business but also works to increase awareness of the importance of bees to the world’s ecosystems. He regularly engages in projects with local schools and as a result was involved with the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games Legacy Project. Warren feels that mentoring “is one of the best things I’ve ever done”. His mentor, Mike Lees, described his work with Warren as “an exciting opportunity encompassing the challenge of creating a strategy to get across the ethical message of the plight of bees, while also building the Plan Bee brand and operations”. Scotish Chambers spoke to
Warren and he outlined how he and Plan Bee have benefited from tapping into Mike’s experience and expertise.
Why did you join Business Mentoring?
“I felt that I didn’t have a
Warren Bader, Plan Bee Ltd
you meet. As soon as I met with Mike I knew he was going to be the right guy for us. Carol Anne (of Scotish Chambers) is very perceptive about matching a business with a mentor and it’s such an important part of the process.”
What business issues did you work on?
“We covered the whole spectrum. We talked about moving the business forward through developing the business’s product lines, our financial processes, the marketing of our product offering and breaking into new international markets – particularly for the new craſt beer we are working on.”
What have been the effects of mentoring on you and the business?
» Forthcoming training
FIRST AID AT WORK REQUALIFICATION COURSE (2 DAYS) Thursday 19 – Friday 20 February
SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON YOUR CREDIT CONTROL PROCEDURES AND BOOST YOUR DEBT COLLECTION TECHNIQUES Tuesday 24 February
MASTERING… EFFECTIVE BOARD MEETINGS Tuesday 3 March
EXPORT CONTROLS AND COMPLIANCE INCLUDING ITAR Tuesday 24 March
EXPORT AND IMPORT BASICS Wednesday 25 March
For further information on all our courses, please contact our Training Department on 0141 204 8332 or training@
glasgowchamberofcommerce.com or visit
www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
helicopter view of my business. Being the owner of a small business you are always at the coal face; it can be a lonely journey and it’s not always easy to see the potential mistakes you can make or the opportunities available. I went in looking to improve the performance of the business, to get an external set of eyes on
things and to talk with someone with experience of a large-scale operation.”
How well did you connect with your mentor, Mike?
“Mentoring is a bit like blind date. You look over someone’s CV and have preconceived ideas but you never really know someone until
“On a personal level, it’s led to a mind change. Mike instilled in me more confidence generally and also about the business and the products we sell. We’ve changed the product formula for our craſt beer to improve the taste and make it more appealing, and we’re also now working on moving into export markets in the Middle East and China for our honey.”
Would you recommend Business Mentoring Scotland to other businesses?
“Joining Glasgow Chamber has been fantastic value for money and joining Business Mentoring was a complete no brainer. Mike has been amazingly proactive in moving the business forward and I feel that every businessperson should have a mentor – a sage if you like – at some point in their life.”
FIND OUT MORE...
To find out more about how your business can benefit from Business Mentoring please contact Carol Anne Morris on 0141 204 8316 or check out the website www.
businessmentoringscotland.co.uk
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