Mentoring for Business in Wales: Learning from Good Practice

LEED Unit at Cardiff Business School has compiled this report on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government's (WAG) Department for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DELLS). The aim of this report was to develop a number of options for demand-led mentoring programmes for businesses in Wales based on research into best practice. The options developed reflect DELLS' area of competence, are affordable and measurable, fit within DELLS' and the Department of Enterprise, Innovation and Networks' (DEIN) joined up approach to business support, and meet the needs of Welsh businesses.

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Exectutive Summary

1.0 Introduction and Background

1.1 The Research Brief
1.2 Structure of the Report

2.0 Approach and Methodology

2.1 Desk Research
2.2 Stakeholder Consultations
2.3 Phone Survey/Face-to-face Discussions with Mentoring Providers
2.4 SME Focus Group
2.5 Development of In-depth Case Studies
2.6 Developing Options for a DELLS-led Monitoring Programme

3.0 What is Mentoring?

3.1 Different Types of Mentoring
3.2 What is Driving Mentoring?
3.3. The Business Case for Mentoring

4.0 Demand and Need - Issues and Findings

4.1 Strategy

5.0 Supply - Issues and Findings

5.1 Mentoring in Wales - The Welsh Situation
5.2 Examples of Mentoring Programmes
5.3 Features of Mentoring Programmes
5.4 Summary of Mentoring Programmes

6.0 Best Practices Approaches to Mentoring

6.1 Guidelines for Mentoring Relationships
6.2 What Makes a Good Mentor
6.3 What Makes aSuccessful Mentoring Programme
6.4 Designing a Mentoring Programme
6.5 Standards
6.6 Case Studies

7.0 Proposed Options: DELLS-led Mentoring Programme

8.0 Conclusions and Recommendations

8.1 Key Factors
8.2 Delivery Mechanisms
8.3 Next Steps