Local Enterprise Office Dublin City's Mentor Programme is designed to match the knowledge, skills, insights and entrepreneurial capability of experienced business practitioners with small business owner/ managers who need practical and strategic one to one advice and guidance. The mentor contributes independent, informed observation and advice.
Our mentor programme is open to new and existing businesses based in Dublin 1- 13, 17 and 20.
Applicant businesses must be based and operate in the Dublin City Council catchment area.
The Role of Mentor:
- Listen
- Advise and provide direction
- Help the promoter identify problems and suggest areas for improvement
- Discuss solutions and innovative ways of improving business activity
- Help with the decision making process
- Share experience and knowledge
- Provide structure and context for discussion
- Offer assistance in compiling a business plan
What a 1 to 1 session involves
Each session provides you with up to 3 hours contact time with a mentor, which can be made up of:
- On site/off site face to face time*,
- Support via emails/telephone calls
- Time spent by the mentor guiding your research for your business
* In exceptional circumstances, your mentoring session may be conducted entirely via phone or video conferencing facilitites.
COVID-19 is deemed an exceptional circumstance and therefore all mentoring is presently taking place virtually in line with government advice.
Note it is not the role of the mentor to become actively involved in the day to day running of your business.
Please Note: The Local Enterprise Office does not provide legal advice or advice on immigration / visa status. For further info please contact https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/
For specific Legal queries you should contact a Solicitor.
Areas of involvement typically include:
Technology
- App/Platform/Software Development, Business Planning/Strategy, Localisation, Prototype Development/Testing, Product Development/Innovation, Resource Management, Route to Market
Food
- Business Planning/Strategy, Food Safety/Hygeine, Marketing & Sales, Manufacturing, Packaging, Product Design/Innovation, Route to Market etc.
Creative/Craft
- Business Planning/Strategy, Import/Export, Manufacturing, Product Design/Innovation, Route to Market etc.
Marketing & Sales
- Advertising, Branding, International Marketing, Market Research, Marketing Strategy, Packaging, Pitching/Presentation Skills, Product Development, PR, Route to Market, Sales etc.
Social Media and Digital Marketing
- Analytics, Creating Content, eCommerce, Generating/Increasing Online Brand Awareness, Online Sales, Search Engine Optimisation, Social Media Strategy etc.
Business Advice
- Business Plannning, Company Formation, Growth Strategy/Scaling, HR, Idea Feasibility, Import/Export, HR, Manufacturing, Product Design/Innovation, Resource Management, Route to Market etc.
Finance
- Accounting, Bookkeeping, Business Evaluations, Costing/Pricing, Credit Control, Financial Management/Cashflow, Pitching for Investment/Borrowing, Tax, VAT
How to Apply
1. Complete our Mentoring Application Form. The form will ask you describe your business and select one category of mentoring in which you need advice. Please ensure you provide as much detail as possible on your application to enable us to match you with the most suitable mentor.
2. You must complete payment in the Mentoring Application Form order to be assigned a mentor.
3. Your application will be assessed and allocated to a mentor to arrange your 1 to 1 session within 5 - 7 working days.
Your mentoring session is valid for 3 months from date of application. Any hours not used within the 3 month time frame will automatically lapse.
Please Note: €10 Administration Fee is Non Refundable.
A maximum of 9 hours of mentoring can be applied for.
