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What is MentorMagic?
Are you serious about business growth? Have you the confidence to put priceless advice into practice? Those who presented in MentorMagic's first year have reported back a dramatic improvement in business with one participant saying that her business grew in turnover by over 1,000% between February and December 2006. Presenting has become a much sought-after opportunity for people - and we want to make sure that opportunity goes to those who will make the most of it.
Our panel consists of up to 5 successful business entrepreneurs who will give helpful tips and advice as well as inviting input from our business audience. Panellists for 2008 included Colin Potter (Chairman), Proposal Genie and previous owner of Uniworld Communications, Paul Barry Wlas of the Fredericks Foundation, Nicola Youern of Southern Focus Trust and Nigel Taylor, Taylor Made Computer Solutions - profiles can be found below
'"Where are we Now" sessions were presented by previous participants Chloe Carey of Handover HR, Bob Evans of TestIT and Robert Bentley of Wessex Partnerships
The final!
Congratulations to Jackie Pool Associates and Team Grasshopper joint winners of Mentor Magic 2008.
The audience were treated to three excellent presentations from our Heat Winners all of whom had taken on board suggestions made by the panel and implemented new processes in their businesses.
The judges after 30 minutes of deliverating were unable to sepearte our joint winners who both win a year's free consultancy from Deloitte and a year's complimentary membership of the Chamber.
Butlers2Go our other finalist also impressed the judges and ongoing mentoring has been offfered by Chairman of the Panel, Colin Potter.
2009
Mentor Magic is being rested in 2009 but we hope to bring it back in 2010
What people have said about MentorMagic
- Dear MentorMagic team, thanks so much for all you did last night - I had several very positive comments from people; those who had been before said it was the best ever, by far. Working with the Chamber has made it a much better offering, and I look forward to working with you on the remaining heats and dinner, so that it becomes as high profile as it deserves. Lizz Clarke, LCM
- Thank-you for the great opportunity that MentorMagic provided us with last night. We picked up some great insights through this forum and it deserves its continued success. I would be grateful if you could forward this email to the members of the panel and the people involved from the Chamber to pass on our thanks. Kind regards, Steven Mason, The Green Store.
- Went to MentorMagic last night and was very impressed with the whole evening. The evening was well organised and the presentations were very impressive; all of the feedback and suggestions given by the panel and audience were very constructive and I am not sure where else you could learn this information. Very well done to all those involved in putting this together. I look forward to the next one in July. The Disc Directory.
- I thought last night was a great evening and very informative and engaging. Well done. Nick Harland, Flagship Training.
- I would take this opportunity to recommend all business owners and entrepreneurs to get involved in Mentor Magic and also say a big 'thank you' to both you and Colin for your support and encouragement.
- We are now taking 1.5 million calls a year - turnover has increased dramatically and we are now enjoying healthy profits. It is now our belief that no business can rely on taking the risk of a customer phoning back if they don't get through on the first try. Last month we took 40,000 overflow calls for the motor industry and we have now launched an outbound campaign for vehicle MOT and service bookings, which has taken off with a successful start. Change does take time, but implementation of Mentor Magic advice is the key. Neil Murphy, Armchair
How to Partcipate
1) Apply to present your business to our panel - dates for 2010 will be announced but to express your interest e-mail jane.nash@chamber.org.uk
2) Come along as part of our business audience - take advantage of the expert advice on offer on the evening including a Business Masterclass and benefit from quality advice and tips from those who have grown a successful business. MentorMagic also provides a great opportunity for networking with a range of other businesses -
3) Be a MentorMagic Sponsor and raise your profile amongst a business audience - e-mail maureen.frost@chamber.org.uk for details
Mentor Magic is supported and sponsored by:
LCM - Logical Creative Marketing
University of Portsmouth Business School & Purple Door
DocumentGenie
Our Panellists
Colin Potter
Colin went from financial meltdown in 1995 to financial success when he sold Uniworld Communications in 2004. In the 8 years from 1996 he grew Uniworld from start up, without any financial backing, to a turnover of £24million. In 2004, he started Document Genie with three colleagues. It now sells its products to FTSE250 companies and international corporations. Colin is involved in two other businesses, one a new start up, as well as mentoring several other business owners. He is also a board member and trustee of Fareham-based charity, The Rainbow Centre. He has experience of what it takes to succeed and especially the problems and growing pains of small companies. He dispenses frank advice in the clearest of terms.
Paul Barry-Walsh
In 1986 Paul Barry-Walsh left IBM after nine years to form Safetynet, pioneering many of the modern business continuity practices including the world's first back up dealing room. Between 1 November 1996 and April 1998, he took a sabbatical from Safetynet to formulate the Netstore business plan and launch the Company with Jeff Maynard. In February 1999 he led the management buyout of Safetynet and became Managing Director and majority shareholder. During 2000, Safetynet was sold to Guardian IT. Paul was both Chairman and Chief Executive of Netstore until March 2004 and served as Chief Executive Officer of Netstore plc from October 2006 to July 2, 2007.
Paul Barry-Walsh founded Fredericks Foundation in 2000 to help people facing barriers to become self-employed. The Foundation, with Paul as Chairman, provides business advice and small start-up loans and has recently funded its 500th client. Paul is active in raising funds for the Foundation and also sits on most of the charity's funding panels, providing advice and direction for a wide range of business ideas, nearly one third of which come from the Portsmouth area. Paul Barry-Walsh was delighted to receive the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion in her recent birthday honours.
Nicola Youern - CEO of Southern Focus Trust,
Nicola Youern is CEO of Southern Focus Trust, a charity which provides care support and advice services across Portsmouth, Hampshire and Dorset, and an expert in the third sector, not-for-profit area.
Under Nicola, SFT has grown from a small subsidiary of Portsmouth Housing Association to an independent enterprise with a turnover of £12 million and 500 staff. SFT continues to experience rapid growth in a market dominated by competitive tendering.
Nicola is also Chair of the Board of ROCC, a social enterprise which provides training, consultancy, research and representation services to organisations in the supported housing and care sector. Nicola dispenses commonsense advice drawn from deep experience of this expanding business sector.
Denise Bryant - Magirus
Nigel Taylor - Managing Director, Taylor Made Computer Solutions
Nigel co-founded Taylor Made with his wife Alison in 1994. Taylor Made is one of the region's best known companies; its fleet of smartly-liveried vehicles seem to be everywhere - and its more than just an image. The company is famed for its superb customer service delivered by an 80-strong workforce of highly-motivated, clever people.
Taylor Made was ranked 8th in February 2008 in The Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies to Work for.
From start up to a successful going concern, and a track record going back 14 years, makes Nigel well qualified to pass on valuable business advice.
Registered office: Regional Business Centre, Harts Farm Way, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 1HR| Company No. 17877 | tel: 023 9244 9449 fax: 023 9244 9444