Outputs and Results

The BizMentors International project aims to innovate the existing business mentoring model within the partnership and using an online interactive platform and shared learning to scale and expand BizMentors International, making expertise accessible to all enterprises and entrepreneurs thereby developing BizMentors International into a transnational mentoring programme. It will be trialled in the NPA area for the duration of this programme.

The project's objectives are:

  • To expand the BizMentors programme throughout the partner regions so that barriers to specific expertise and markets are removed for those with ambition, ideas and skills.
  • Using technology, develop an online platform to scale the mentoring service in a cost efficient and inclusive manner over distance and borders.
  • Develop a Best Practice Handbook (BPH) to share lessons learned and create a product that is robust and transferable throughout all communities in the NPA region and beyond.

 

 

Provide online barrier-free, brokered access to business expertise

Our online platform gives access to to expertise across dispersed communities in the project partner regions and is available in 3 languages.

 

BizMentors international has developed an online, interactive, accessible, inclusive platform for all businesses, which will compliment and supplement existing mentoring support offerings.

The platform can be accessed here in 3 different languages (English, Finnish & Icelandic)

 

Provide community-based peer to peer mentoring support to entrepreneurs and businesses in the Agri-Food sector

During the piloting phase we supported the Agri-Food sector in a structured, free, managed centrally online way that is transferable across other sectors

 

Developing & piloting a mentoring model which will suit each region participating in the project, and ensure its transferability to other business sectors, and other countries (not just in the NPA region), and focusing on a specific business sector (processing/refinement of natural resources) in the partner countries: Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Iceland.

The aim is to share good practice in mentoring models for SMEs in the agri-food sector and enabling SMEs in partnership regions to access free mentoring and expertise. The BizMentors International partnership has successfully developed and tested the mentoring model offline and online.

 

Develop a sustainable and transferrable toolkit and Best Practice Handbook (BPH)

These will complement existing models and policy frameworks in the partner regions for diversification and growth of businesses in the Agri-Food sector

 

Best Practice Handbook can be accessed here.

The partners worked together continuously to ensure a Best Practice Model was incorporated and updated within the platform itself. This includes;

  • Induction videos for both Mentee and Mentors
  • Code of Conduct 
  • Complaints procedure for Mentees and Mentors
  • A 'Block Relationship' button that can be activated by Mentors and Mentees. We hope that this gives added protection in case someone does not follow the code of conduct. In the event of this button being pressed, the offending persons profile will removed
  • Frequently Asked Questions