A call for Mentors

Small businesses need mentors to help them grow and avoid making the same mistakes as their predecessors; it has been claimed by Tim Campbell, a former winner of TV show The Apprentice.

This comes in the same week that APA has launched its own Mentoring Service for PAs with experts drawn from within its membership as Fellow Mentors, who generally offer their support for free to other members, and external, fee charging Consultant Mentors. Both groups are fully validated and approved against a Code of Professional Practice (Ethics). APA Members are encouraged to view the new Mentor Zone within the website for more details.

Tim, now chief executive officer of the Bright Ideas Trust, said that for companies to grow there needs to be adequate professional support in place. He added that Jobcentre Plus should offer support to small firms in terms of providing the right staff and training and stressed the importance of providing young people with a business education and supporting those who want to become entrepreneurs. Cashflow was identified as one of the major obstacles firms are facing as was the upcoming VAT rise.

Gareth Osborne of APA said, “All business people need support to develop skills and expertise and the best way to learn is from your peers. In the case of PAs who better to act as a Mentor than another PA and we have some of the very best in membership.”

APA