Life sciences gurus sign up to be mentors

Nine biotechnology gurus have already signed up to offer advice through the scheme, which will be launched this week by Nexxus, the Scottish life sciences networking body.

Graeme Boyle, Nexxus's director, said the scheme was designed to offer "rapid response" advice to smaller firms that might normally be passed on while standing at the "water cooler" in big companies.

He said the service was designed to be less formal than existing coaching schemes run by chambers of commerce.

Boyle added: "Sometimes you're sitting there wondering what kind of software package to buy or which supplier to use for chemicals.

"This service will allow people to pick up the phone and ask a quick question of someone who's already been through the process."

He said he expected that established companies that are looking to grow their businesses further would use the mentoring service, as well as start-ups.

Dr John Bremner, a former head of biotechnology at Scottish Enterprise and now business development director at Link Technologies, is one of the mentors signed up to the scheme.

Bremner said: "Part of this will be about telling people running businesses that it's OK to feel like that and have questions.

"I also think that the mentors will get something out of this as well. I'm now back in touch with a guy who came to me for advice a few years ago when he was setting up his company and it looks like we'll now do some business together."

Nexxus was set up in 2003 to bring together academics, clinicians and entrepreneurs working in the life science sector in the west of Scotland.

In 2008, the body had its remit extended across the Central Belt to encompass Edinburgh and the east of Scotland.