Dublin City Enterprise Board Mentor Programme

The Mentor Programme is designed to help individuals who:

a) have a business idea
or
b) have a busine­ss up and running.

It is designed to enable the Dublin City Enterprise Board Ltd. to provide individuals/companies with temporary advisers to help identify and overcome obstacles in the development stages. The panel of advisers is made up of mature and experienced business people.

A) I have an idea for a business / product, what should I do?

Ideally you should have a business outline (ideas down on paper) or draft business plan before applying to the Mentor programme.  If your idea is at the conceptual stage you should consider doing our Ideas Generation Workshop (see training section) before applying for a mentor.  Following on from that if you are still serious about setting up in business you should consider doing our Start Your Own Business course (see training section).  At this stage it might be a good idea to have your business assessed by an experienced Mentor.  

B) I am running a business and need help, where should I turn?

Having set up a business many entrepreneurs face issues that they have never dealt with before.  In some cases they do not know who to turn to for some advice and guidance.  Meeting one of the DCEB screening mentors will give you an opportunity to discuss the areas of help you need with your business.  Following on from this meeting the screening mentor will do up a report and submit it to the Business Advisor who will then follow up on these recommendations. All applicants must go through the screening process before being assigned a mentor

You can apply online to make an appointment with one of our screening mentors. They will assess your business/business idea and give you some sound direction and advice. Following on from your screening meeting a report with some recommendations will be submitted to the Business Advisor who will follow up with you.  This process enables DCEB to measure what your requirements are and assign a suitable mentor to your project.

The cost for this one hour screening meeting is €20 which can be paid online through our website.  All applicants must go through the screening process before being assigned a mentor.

How to join the Mentor Progamme:

• Go through the screening process and have your business assessed.
• If the screening mentor has recommended you for mentoring and you want to join the programme, you will be required to pay an additional €50 for a further 6 hours mentoring.   This payment can be made online through our website with a Laser or Credit Card
• We can only trigger the 5 hours mentoring once we have received payment.  You can pay with Laser or credit card though our website.
• Once payment is received the Business Advisor will select a mentor from the panel to work with you.
• The mentor will then get in touch to arrange your first meeting.  

To apply for a one hour Mentor Screening session, please click here

Step 1 -- ONE HOUR MENTOR SCREENING/BUSINESS ADVICE 2010 = €20

Step 2 -- Mentor Assignment-Credit of 6 hours = €50

Do not sign up for the Mentor Programme if you have not been through the screening process.

THE MENTOR'S ROLE IS

• To listen
• To advise and counsel
• To help identify problems and areas for improvement Assist the Entrepreneurs in the preparations plan
• Or he/she contributes independent, informed observations to aid a company in its decision making process.

Please note there is a lead time of two weeks from the date registration is made and a €20 booking fee.

AREAS OF INVOLVEMENT TYPICALLY INCLUDE

• General Management
• Financial Structuring 
• Production Planning
• Marketing Distribution 
• Corporate Organisation 
• Strategic Planning
• Human Resources

THE MENTOR WILL

• outline guidelines to follow 
• point out strengths and weaknesses in proposed projects
• act as a confidential sounding board 
• assist the entrepreneur in the preparation of business plans

However, the Mentor is not a professional consultant and under the terms of the programme, may not become actively involved in the day-to-day management or assume the role of executive in the company.

HOW THE PROGRAMME WORKS

• Each request for a mentor is dealt with individually
• Careful consideration is given to "match" between the requirements of the individual/company and the specialised skill and experience of the prospective adviser
• Several possible Mentors will be suggested and the final selection made by the individual/company on the basis of information supplied by the individual/director
• The mentor signs a confidentiality agreement before taking on any assignment
• The mentor and company may meet up to ten times per twelve month period
• Either the individual/company or the Mentor may terminate the arrangement at any time

If assistance is needed in more than one field of expertise, one or more additional mentors may be assigned to the individual company

Please note that Dublin City Enterprise Board mentorees are considered;

‘ beneficiaries  of aid under the 07-13 ROP and participating in this subsidised mentoring is an acceptance of their inclusion in the list of beneficiaries published in accordance with point (d) of Article 7(2) of the Implementation Regulation’.