Yell debuts mentoring award
- Added:
- Oct 20, 2008
Small businesses and entrepreneurs in the UK are crying out for mentoring and coaching advice, according to research released.
The study was conducted by Yell.com and horsesmouth, the social networking site dedicated to free and informal online mentoring.
The research supports the Yell Mentoring Works Awards, run in conjunction with horsesmouth.co.uk, to celebrate the valuable role that mentors are playing in helping small businesses to start-up and grow. Yell.com and horsesmouth.co.uk are now calling for those who have benefited from the support of a mentor to thank them by nominating them for the award.
Undoubtedly fuelled by worries about the current economic climate and the future of their careers and businesses, people are increasingly turning to the internet to find mentoring, support and advice. Throughout the last three months, searches for mentoring and coaching on Yell.com have increased by 116 per cent above the monthly average for 2001.
In addition, business related searches on online mentoring site horsesmouth.co.uk, have rocketed by 200 per cent since June. And, in the past week alone, as the full blast of the financial crisis has hit, traffic to the horsesmouth site has doubled.
Helen Stevenson, chief marketing officer at Yell.com, commented: “People are always exploring new career options, and may be contemplating starting up their own businesses. This increase in online searches for mentoring and coaching suggests they are looking for support and encouragement from others who have been there and done that.”
Brent Hoberman, founder and CEO of mydeco.com and co-founder of Lastminute.com, who has benefited from the experience of a wide range of mentors, said: “A positive mentoring relationship can be invaluable to small businesses, especially new start-ups. It can help you avoid making mistakes, grow your confidence and build trust in your instincts.”
MT Rainey, horsesmouth.co.uk founder and CEO, said: “These challenging times mean that more and more people are seeking out and sharing wisdom, advice, support and experiences online. Horsesmouth.co.uk allows this to happen in a safe, hosted and anonymous online environment, where members can share troubles, bounce around ideas and benefit from the wisdom and goodwill of others – all for free.”
Informal mentors, such as those on horsesmouth.co.uk often offer their time, experience and wisdom for altruistic purposes and to “give something back” to society. The Yell Mentoring Works Awards offer people the opportunity to thank their mentor and acknowledge their contribution through a nomination.
People who would like to reward a business mentor now have just three weeks to nominate them for the award. The winner will receive £1,000 plus an exclusive ‘money can’t buy’ breakfast meeting with a business hero of their choice from a list including: Lastminute.com co-founder and mydeco.com founder, Brent Hoberman; Specsavers founder Dame Mary Perkins; Coffee Republic founder Sahar Hashemi, and internet entrepreneur Ben Way. Entries close on October 27, 2008 at 18.00 and will be judged on October 31 by an expert panel.
To enter the awards, click here.