BACKGROUND

In its post-launch Strategic Plan, EEDA, the Regional Development Agency for the East of England, identified mentoring for owner-managers of small businesses as a strategic priority which would, if adopted on a sufficiently large scale, have benefits for the Region’s economy. This aspiration was not at the time supported by any plan, budget or resources for implementation.

What experience does Obsidian have in this sector?

Obsidian partner Tom Serpell, is an enthusiast for mentoring and experienced strategist and B2B marketeer. He had been for some time an adviser to business owners for Cambridge Enterprise Agency and is a member of the Institute for Business Advisers; and affiliate of the Market Research Society.

Nature of client's problem

EEDA was at the time unable internally to resource the project necessary to identify what should be done to implement the strategic aim.

Objectives of Product/service offered by Obsidian

EEDA was aware of a number of mentoring schemes and Government supported initiatives but not of their relative value in meeting their aims. The project therefore included both identification and evaluation of all such schemes in order to select the best way forward.

How the assignment was carried out

After desk research identified existing schemes, field interviews revealed their disparity and that no single scheme would meet the Region’s needs. Schemes were not funded sufficiently or for long enough either to present themselves to a wide market or for long enough to be effective. EEDA could not promote any one scheme in preference to others but communication of the availability of such schemes as existed and about the general desirability of and best practice in mentoring were roles suitable for their support. An outline plan for the creation of a virtual (web-based) forum for mentoring and its promotion were recommended and subsequently adopted by EEDA’s Board.

In the aftermath of this strategy project, EEDA decided that it was desirable to include mentoring in other parts of the community besides business in the scope of the Forum. A tender was generated to identify a supplier (not Obsidian) capable of managing the programme to create an independent company, funded initially by EEDA and ESF, to manage the Forum.

Tom Serpell chaired the Steering Committee leading to the foundation in November 2003 of East Mentoring Forum Ltd and its website ; and subsequently became a non-executive Director. Obsidian was then contracted to draft its first Marketing Plan.

Benefits for the client

EEDA was able to outsource both the evaluation of what to do then the execution of its adopted plans to appropriately experienced consultants dedicated to precise objectives, confident in the quality of work done and without dilution of its own staff priorities.