Business Mentoring
Are you driven by a passion for sharing your knowledge and experience in business planning, financial management, marketing, or product sales channel development? Do you want to help emerging businesses turn their plans into reality and make a meaningful impact on the jewellery and silversmithing industry? Become a mentor and embark on a transformative journey that benefits both you and your mentee.
6 to 12-month free business mentoring programme open (via email invite) to Business Diagnostic and Advice session participants.
Programme dates: All mentorships commence in January or August.
Fee: Free programme upon successful matching process.
Applications close for mentors: Sunday 28 July 2024, 5pm (Round 1).
Like to know more? Register your interest below, join our next Q&A session to find out more about becoming mentor or just talk to our team! Call 020 7566 7650 or email applications@goldsmiths-centre.org
What is the Business Mentoring programme?
Starting out in business can be a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows. It is easier to spark ideas, reflect and solve problems by speaking to others. As a volunteer mentor on our pilot Business Mentoring programme, you can provide emerging businesses that have completed a Business Diagnostic and Advice session for Jewellers and Silversmiths with the confidence and guidance they need to turn their plans into reality.
Becoming a mentor can be a deeply rewarding experience for several reasons:
- Giving back: Support our diverse emerging maker community.
- Inspiration: Give real-life, practical advice and share a fresh perspective.
- Growth: Improve your skills such as active listening and coaching.
Whether you've got years of experience in the trade or you're simply passionate about its future, we want to hear from you! Share your expertise in areas like business planning, finance, marketing, branding, sales, or product development and manufacturing.
FAQs
Our mentors
Many of our mentors are members of The Goldsmiths’ Company, a membership organisation in existence for almost 700 years. Our mentors are either highly engaged with the industry or work directly in it as practising craftspeople, and designers or in support functions across retail, auction houses, the arts, marketing and education.
Our mentees
Our Business Mentoring Programme is open (via email invite) to emerging UK based businesses that have completed a Business Diagnostic and Advice session for Jewellers and Silversmiths in the past 12 months. By attending a session, our mentees have made their first practical step to help them figure out where their jewellery business stands right now and what to do to take it to the next level.
As a volunteer mentor, you'll have the opportunity to support your mentee in various areas. Share your expertise in fields such as:
- Business planning, management or administration.
- Financial management, raising funds or finance.
- Marketing, branding, PR or digital marketing.
- Developing sales channels, exporting or e-commerce.
- Product design or development.
- Manufacturing, supply chain development or sourcing.
- Range planning.
- Costing and pricing.
1. Express Your Interest: Start by expressing your interest in becoming a mentor. You can do this by filling out our online form, attending our Q&A sessions or contacting us directly via email.
2. Support: Our team will facilitate the initial introduction and provide ongoing support throughout your mentoring journey.
3. Mentorship process: Once you've expressed your interest and been matched with a mentee, you'll engage with them in person, via email, or over the phone. Your role is to help them develop confidence, competence, and new connections in their chosen field.
Got more questions?
To find out more about the mentoring in practice, read our Business Mentoring Pack below, or book yourself into to our upcoming Q&A session with our team: