The Volunteer Business Support Scheme brings together leading business figures from across Hertfordshire to provide one-to-one mentoring to help businesses to get back on their feet. The scheme is funded by Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership as part of its £3.28m COVID-19 business support package, and is delivered by Hertfordshire Growth Hub and the University of Hertfordshire.
Interested SME business owners are matched with a mentor who can provide relevant specialist knowledge. The mentors work as ‘critical friends’ who ask pertinent questions and signpost to relevant resources.
The 40-strong team of mentors are headed up by Hertfordshire LEP Deputy Chair Neil Rutledge, who is Head of Advisory and Business Development at Amberside Advisors Ltd., and experienced entrepreneur Helen Froggett-Thomson from Thomson Training, who provides in-house business growth consultancy.