South West Innovation Centres Host Business Mentors

As part of Torbay Council’s commitment to generate economic prosperity by helping businesses develop and grow, Torbay Development Agency’s Innovation Centres are home to Business Mentors South West and their 130 strong team of business mentors.

The South West Innovation Centres are operated by Torbay Development Agency (TDA) on behalf of the Council, to provide incubation space for new and growing businesses. There are centres at four sites: Lymington Road in Torquay, Vantage Point in Paignton, Watermark Centre in Ivybridge and Cockington Court in Torquay.

The mentor team consists of experienced business people from all sectors of industry and commerce, who have stepped forward to assist the development of smaller companies in the area. Throughout the area, Business Mentors South West supports over 200 businesses, helping them to develop sustainable plans for growth and providing an experienced and highly valued “third eye” on the business.

In recent months the Business Mentors South West volunteer team has been joined by a cohort of mentors supported through a British Bankers Association initiative that involves most of the large high street banks. The banks bring a range of skills - not only in general business management and finance but in areas such as IT, HR and international trade - providing additional experience to enrich mentoring sessions with client businesses seeking to grow their enterprises.

The Innovation Centres provide Business Mentors South West with rooms and facilities for the purposes of mentor interviews, induction training and client meetings, at no charge, as part of their continued support of smaller businesses in the area.

“The South West Innovation Centres provide us with advanced facilities that provide an opportunity for our mentors and clients in the area to work effectively together and away from the distractions of their businesses; providing quality time out to work on the business and not in it.” says Julian Hassard-Short of Business Mentors South West.

Business Mentors South West have a special relationship with the South West Innovation Centres and the organisations are currently considering how it can be further developed to offer regular taster sessions at the centres for a broader range of businesses.

Mayor of Torbay, Gordon Oliver, said: “Torbay Development Agency is Torbay Council’s economic development company; set up to generate economic prosperity to the Bay through jobs and investment.

“One of the key successes of the Council has been the establishment of the South West Innovations Centres, and I am very pleased that the excellent work of the Business Mentors South West scheme is focussed around our Innovation Centres, adding value to the services we offer to help local businesses start up, develop and grow.”

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