MP supports DORMEN

Last week, North Dorset MP, Robert Walter MP, visited East Dorset District Council (EDDC) offices to find out more about and offer his support to DORMEN - the Dorset Business Mentoring programme.

He met with EDDC’s Economic Generation Manager, Kevin Poulton, and Camilla Trimble, who runs Nazareth Lodge in Sturminster Newton and is a volunteer business mentor.

DORMEN provides one-to-one mentoring support for new and established businesses across Dorset. Since its creation in 2005, the DORMEN programme has supported around 400 businesses wishing to either develop or expand - ranging from sole traders to medium-sized companies.

All DORMEN business mentors are trained volunteers who have come forward to offer their own expertise and experience - gathered from senior positions in industry or from work as a professional – to help others wishing to set up or improve their own business.

DORMEN’s network of mentors can help guide individuals and assist companies in finding their own solutions by acting as a ‘high quality sounding board’ and a source of valuable information. Something that Bob believes is a vital resource for many smaller companies that may be lacking confidence in the current economic climate.

This unique scheme has thrived as a result of positive partnership working between Business Link, the South West Regional Development Agency, and all district, county and unitary authorities across Dorset. DORMEN accepts many of its referrals through Business Link Dorset.

A survey of the scheme’s results after working together with local companies shows amongst other things a 28 per cent increase in sales, a 47 per cent increase in employment and a marked increase in business capacity and preparedness.

After the meeting Bob said: “…There is a great deal of untapped business expertise out there and this scheme draws on that valuable and willing resource. I sincerely hope that, by highlighting this meeting, we encourage many more volunteers to come forward for mentor selection and training.

“As Camilla Trimble said, it’s about ‘Dorset people helping Dorset business’ and in my view demonstrates the benefits of using local knowledge to help the local economy.”

Anyone interested in accessing or becoming a mentor themselves should visit http://www.dormen.org.uk or contact Programme Manager Vivian Dunn on 01202 607530.