SPARRING AND MENTORING TO SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURS

KEUKE'S CLIENTS ARE 100 PERCENT HAPPY WITH BUSINESS MENTORS

According to a quality survey conducted by Business Mentors Finland, business mentors provide a significant benefit to companies. Business Mentors Finland is a national network of experienced entrepreneurs, executives, and business specialists. Based on the annually conducted survey, the popularity of business mentor activities has increased 23 percent from last year.

– 80 percent of the companies in the Central Uusimaa area that took part in the survey felt that the business mentors provided good and useful support, says Minna Lojander, Business Mentors Finland's regional coordinator for Central Uusimaa.

80 percent of Keuke's clients who utilized the business mentor services felt that their company's future prospects had improved significantly or to some degree  over the year.

– According to the survey, entrepreneurs appreciated the support, ideas, and perspectives provided by more experienced entrepreneurs.

– 100 percent of the entrepreneurs in our region were willing to recommend the business mentor activities to other entrepreneurs. Business Mentors Finland is an important partner to Keuke and complements our services in a significant manner.

During the past year, the business mentor activities reached a total of 1,491 clients throughout the country and the mentors spent a total of 20,448 hours working with the companies. There are approximately 15 business mentors operating in the Central Uusimaa area.

EXPERIENCE AND SILENT KNOWLEDGE

The business mentors have extensive business operation experience either as entrepreneurs or in the corporate world and provide their services on a voluntary basis.

– The strengths of the Central Uusimaa business mentors include management, production, financing, marketing and advertisement, internationalization, and change of owner situations, Lojander says.

A business mentor guides the entrepreneur in thinking beyond their own competence and operations.

– The business mentor does not provide pat answers or make decisions on behalf of the entrepreneurs. According to the survey, the feedback, expertise, and support provided by the business mentors was however considered significant. The discussions can be used to outline the methods a company could use to seek growth, for example.

In addition to the silent knowledge acquired through experience, business mentors have also accumulated wide-ranging networks.

– Business Mentors can also introduce entirely new business ideas and partnerships,  Lojander says.

Additional information: Minna Lojander, service coordinator for Keuke and Business Mentors Finland's regional coordinator for Central Uusimaa. minna.lojander (at) keuke.fi. Tel. +358 (0)415258485