Mentor call to women in business

FEMALE entrepreneurs are being invited to meet a mentor in Edinburgh on Friday with the aim of creating 'new opportunities for connection, knowledge sharing and fresh entrepreneurial inspiration'.

The gathering will give women the opportunity to experience speed-mentoring as well as the chance to network. Picture: Malcolm Cochrane

The gathering at The Melting Pot has been arranged by the Small Firms Enterprise Dev­elopment Initiative, the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs, and Gov­ernment Equalities Office, and will comprise speed-mentoring sessions and speakers as well as the chance to network.

Jackie Brierton, founder and vice-chair of Women’s Enterprise Scotland, said: “Having an effective mentor plays an important role in the success of any business and women in particular seem to attach value to having access to quality mentoring.”

Louise McCosh and Lois McMurtie, who run French Duncan HR Services, said they benefited from mentoring in setting up. “The early phases of a new business initiative are both exciting and overwhelming, and achieving outside perspective is hugely valuable,” said McCosh.