Portsmouth business mentoring firm bids to help small owners in pandemic

A BUSINESS mentoring firm has launched a new extension of its existing service to helpsmall business owners who are on a budget.
Ian Skinner, owner of Portsmouth-based Business Improvement Group, which has launched a new schemeIan Skinner, owner of Portsmouth-based Business Improvement Group, which has launched a new scheme
Ian Skinner, owner of Portsmouth-based Business Improvement Group, which has launched a new scheme

Portsmouth-based Business Improvement Group, which offers mentoring services to business owners looking to improve themselves, has launched the new scheme, Let’s Talk.

This allows business owners to get two 20-minute phone or video conference calls each month with one of the Business Improvement Group’s mentors.

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Managing director Ian Skinner launched the scheme after realising how many businesses were in need during the pandemic and wanting to do something to help them.

He said: ‘It was an idea born out of lockdown and my approach to affordability, looking at small businesses in particular.

‘I still wanted people to access professional resources so that’s why we are doing it through phone calls and video conferencing.

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‘What I am looking to do is look at the smaller businesses which need just as much help as everyone, but don’t have as much to pay for this resource. I want to be available to people who won’t have been able to afford this ordinarily.

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‘There’s only so much money you can pay for this sort of thing when you set up a business and especially now when businesses are struggling.

‘Lots of people are also starting up businesses at a younger age and they don’t have the experience in starting a business, so that’s what we’re here for.’

The Business Improvement Group was launched in April 2019 by Ian and offers one-to-one and group coaching, mentoring and business advice with experienced city company owners.

It also offers group mentoring sessions through presentations with business owners sharing their own experiences, and what they have learnt, in order to help others get the most out of their businesses.

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Ian said: ‘Personal and professional growth aren’t mutually exclusive. To grow professionally you must grow personally and growing professionally helps you to grow personally.’

For more information go to businessimprovementgroup.co.uk

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