SCCUL Mentors, a structured mentoring programme established by SCCUL Enterprises celebrates its first year in operation. In 12 short months, over 180 local businesses have received free mentoring support from up to 80 established business figures and industry experts in Galway. Mentoring has been provided across a number of sectors including Finance, Sales, HR, PR & Marketing, Quality, and Business Planning. SCCUL Mentors earlier this year launched its 2013 Programme and businesses may apply online www.scculmentors.ie Speaking on the occasion of the first anniversary of the initiative Chairman of SCCUL Enterprises Padraig O’Callaghan said that said that feedback from the SCCUL Entrepreneurship Awards had provided the stimulus for the initiative.
“The idea for SCCUL Mentors emerged from feedback received from participants in the SCCUL Entrepreneurship Awards who derived significant benefits from their interviews with the competition judging panel. We were delighted to develop this programme which has met a real need and offered an opportunity for small companies to avail of invaluable guidance insight and advice to take their business to the next level.”
Visiting Ballybane Enterprise Centre today Friday May 10 EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science Maire Geoghegan- Quinn said,
"It was a great pleasure to visit the Ballybane Enterprise Centre. I was particularly impressed by the very wide ranging set of activities that are being carried out at the Ballybane Enterprise Centre, including the SCCUL mentors programme.”
“These very pro-active initiatives are helping both to improve the quality of life for many people and are assisting in a very positive way to create much needed employment in the Galway area. I commend the work of all the staff at the Ballybane Enterprise Centre for delivering so many positive results across a number of different disciplines."
Reflecting on the success of the first year of the SCCUL Mentors Programme Colman Collins Chairman SCCUL Mentors Advisory Board said “At times it can be a lonely and isolated road for owners of SME’s – SCCUL Mentors provides a real opportunity for SME owners to get access to different perspectives.”
Such was the demand for the service that additional mentors had to be recruited half way through year one to facilitate the need for hands on practical support.
“The biggest demand we have had was for public relations and marketing support and luckily we’ve been able to call on the pro bono support of the many public relations and marketing experts here in Galway,” concluded Colman Collins.
SCCUL Mentors is currently accepting application from businesses in Galway City and County. To register please contact Ballybane Enterprise Centre on 091 386 004 or online www.scculmentors.ie
