Local Mentors for Local Businesses

We’re launching a new mentoring programme designed to support small businesses across York and North Yorkshire who are ready to grow, scale and move confidently into their next stage. This programme connects local business leaders with experienced mentors from different sectors, creating space for honest conversations, fresh thinking and practical support.

Our focus is simple: helping people develop the core, non‑technical skills that drive business growth — confidence, clarity, leadership and decision‑making. By matching you with someone outside your industry, we bring in new perspectives, challenge and ideas to help you move forward faster.

This programme is open to both mentors and mentees, and is designed for people in positions of influence — whether you’re a founder, a senior leader or someone shaping decisions day‑to‑day within a growing business.

Funding: This programme is supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Mentees will be asked for a small contribution of £46 + VAT to take part, this will be paid to the provider once a place on the programme is confirmed.

About the Programme

We support the development of core leadership and growth skills that every business owner or leader needs as they navigate change. Our matching process includes an interview and uses our advanced matching software to ensure strong rapport, alignment and a partnership that gets off to a flying start. We provide support throughout your mentoring journey.

Programme Commitments for all participants:

• In‑person training day (York) — Friday 27 February, 9am for 9:30am start, close at 3:30pm.
• Six × 1‑hour mentoring sessions delivered online over 6 months – timings to suit each pair.
• Essential Impact Check‑ins
  • As this pilot is publicly funded, it’s important we can demonstrate the value of the programme and its impact on local businesses.
  • All participants — mentors and mentees — agree to take part in three check‑ins at the start, midpoint and end.
  • These are updates on what’s changed for you, such as confidence, leadership, revenue, customers, decisions or team development.

Why Take Part

Mentees

• A trusted sounding board who understands real‑world business challenges
• Increased confidence and clarity in your decision‑making
• Fresh thinking from outside your sector
• Access to new networks and opportunities
• Support to strengthen leadership and strategic thinking

Mentors

• A meaningful way to support local businesses and give back to the region
• Strengthen your own leadership and communication skills
• Gain new insights from emerging founders and leaders
• Build your professional network
• Experience the reward of helping someone progress

Who We’re Looking For

Mentees

We welcome small business owners and individuals in leadership or influence‑based roles. You don’t have to be a CEO — but you do need to be someone who can take action and influence the direction of the small business who is ready to grow.

Key qualities we value

• Growth mindset — open, curious and willing to try new approaches
• Accountability — committed to your goals
• Coachability — open to feedback and learning
• Ambition — aiming to grow or scale in the next 12 months
• Influence — able to shape decisions or direction

Mentors

We’re looking for experienced founders, business owners, or individuals who have held significant leadership roles in growing organisations. We are looking for individuals who continue to hold these roles and those who are no longer actively involved in the business day-to-day. You don’t need to have had experience as a mentor, we will provide full training and support.

Key qualities we value

• Practical experience of growing, scaling or exiting a business
• People‑centred leadership and the ability to listen
• Constructive challenge and good judgement
• Integrity and discretion
• Curiosity and humility — willing to learn as well as guide

Please complete the Expression of Interest form

If you have any questions before submitting the form, please get in touch.