Bristol firms are being urged to help mentor the city’s aspiring entrepreneurs and, in turn, learn from them in the process.
BRAVE Enterprise, the not-for-profit business support organisation, is calling on people with experience of running a business or in business banking to share their experience with people who are out of work and want to set up a small business. 
BRAVE runs mentoring schemes under the New Enterprise Allowance scheme to support unemployed people with good business ideas, including one-to-one coaching to help them through the early start-up stages.
BRAVE volunteer mentor Brian Curtin, who founded the Bristol-based equipment services company Lifting Gear & Safety (LGS), says there are benefits for both mentors and mentees.
“My motivation is to give something back and giving up just a couple of hours a week to help someone starting out in business can be a very rewarding experience,” he said.
“Quite often it’s just about giving them the confidence to believe in themselves. But mentoring is a two-way street and you can learn an awful lot meeting people from different backgrounds and sectors.
“BRAVE is a hub for the exchange of ideas and some of the things you learn can help you in your own business.”
BRAVE Enterprise director Liz Sands, pictured, added: “The expert advice provided by people like Brian, who has started and runs a successful business, can make all the difference between success and failure. 
“So we are asking others with experience in businesses to give up a small amount of time to help others just starting theirs. Many of the people we work with are unemployed and often all they need is a bit of encouragement and help with creating a business plan.”
BRAVE, based in central Bristol, has helped thousands of entrepreneurs start and run profitable businesses since it was launched in the 1980s.
The organisation provides a wide range of practical business advice and low-cost training to both people thinking about becoming self-employed and trading businesses looking to grow.
For an informal talk about becoming a BRAVE mentor, contact Liz on 0117 314 4614.
