An ex-teacher who founded a mentoring business has spoken about how the Help to Grow course transformed his business.

The Help to Grow management programme is launching its latest course at the Gloucester Growth Hub, based at the University of Gloucestershire's Oxstalls Campus, next month.

The 50-hour programme, run over a 12-week period, is 90% funded by the Government so the £7,500 course costs delegates just £750.

One person who has benefited hugely from the course is Chris Powell, founder and managing director of Bespoke Mentoring, based in the Forest of Dean.

The company offers an alternative provision for young people across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire, supporting young people who have slipped through the net of the mainstream system, helping them to achieve the best outcomes for them.

Employing 30 people, Bespoke Mentoring has seen its annual revenue rise from £700,000 to £1.2 million.

Chris Powell, who founded the company eight years ago after teaching for 15 years, said: "When it first started I didn't really see myself as a business person. When I came out of teaching I didn't really know where I fitted.

"I had worked with Andy at the Growth Hub since the start of Bespoke Mentoring. We had got to the point where we had about 30 staff. We had got a good business cycle with referrals mapped out and safeguarding teams. I had never really thought beyond it. We work across the South West but when I worked with Andy we were challenged to see how it could grow further.

"I had worked really hard over the last few years to bring key people in and I'm a strong believer that those people I bring in are better than me at doing the job they are in, but the biggest thing for me was just getting on that next step and allowing myself to reflect on the current structure to take the business UK-wide."

"The business is growing in lots of different ways. I've taken on a head of service, we're currently across four localities which will grow to five before Christmas but we are now looking to start partnerships across the UK. Some are really high-profile people. I think the confidence of going to talk to people like that has come a lot from the course.

He added: "Even though you are sitting next to perhaps somebody running a cake making business or an accountant, everybody had to start their sessions off by saying about their journey and why they were here but some of the problems were really similar. It was really nice knowing you weren't on your own and as time went on we had peer groups that we joined and we became close friends."

Bespoke Mentoring is also working with football clubs on safeguarding systems

For more information on the Help to Grow course, phone the team on 01242 715400, email HTGM@glos.ac.uk or visit the website.

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