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Mentoring Business Finds Quick Path to Success

A new Bawtry-based business mentoring consultancy, Business Pathfinders, has grown its staff by 200% since moving to larger premises in March thanks to increasing demand for its services.

Set up by accountancy business owner Lisa Smedley, Business Pathfinders has now taken on three new mentors and two administrative staff to support its one-to-one business mentoring programme tailored to individual clients.

The company’s expanding team of mentors is playing a critical part in ensuring clients receive the very best business advice, with all mentors having run their own successful businesses or held directorships.

Lisa says: “I have a background in energy and finance, whilst Judith Smith brings her experience of the retail, construction and third sectors, Steve Morgan his telecommunications knowledge and Bob Spawton his sales background in engineering. By offering both industry experience and mentoring expertise we can ensure real and rapid growth for our clients. Clients come to us from all over Yorkshire, with Bawtry having excellent arterial routes to the A1 and M62”.

Demand for the company’s services has risen as it has helped clients see real improvements in sales, profitability, business performance, time and money. In these times of tight lending, Business Pathfinders also plays a key role in helping clients find funding opportunities from the banks and Business Link to help them achieve their growth objectives.
One local business that has benefited from Business Pathfinders is Most Wanted UK Ltd, a publishing company that saw its running costs significantly reduced and secured significant bank funding as a result of Business Pathfinder mentor support.

Co-owner of Most Wanted UK Ltd, Coral Keers says: “The Business Pathfinders mentors helped us put together a really solid business plan to secure finance from the bank – not bad for a one year old business looking for a loan in a recession. They also helped us develop suitable terms and conditions to ensure better credit control. Above all, they cast an objective eye on the business, helping us get a clear grasp of what we wanted to achieve and training us on areas of business management where we needed expert advice”.

Lisa is not surprised that Coral has seen such a turnaround in so short a time and feels that many other businesses are not realising their full potential.

She says: “Our aim is to make a real difference to the performance of businesses in Yorkshire and Humber to help drive the regional economy forward. The Business Pathfinders programme is proving so successful that by 2010 we will also be taking on additional staff to roll it out across the Midlands or the North West”.

Readers interested in finding out more about Business Pathfinders can arrange a no-obligation two hour mentoring session, which is free if they decide not to sign up to the programme. Readers are also offered the opportunity to attend a seminar on effective sales techniques worth £300 for free. To book your place on the Closing the Deal seminar held on 17th September at the NRC/St. Leger Horse and Country Park call 01302 714715 and quote reference number BPPR0809.