Why I mentor: from human rights to business growth
My journey to why I mentor and why I joined the Association of Business Mentors (ABM) is rooted in the same principles that guide my company – Start Easy: a focus on human rights and sustainable development. For years, my work in NGOs and corporate social responsibility taught me that true, lasting change requires a strong, ethical […]
ABM Shortlisted for Four Memcom Excellence Awards
We’re thrilled to announce that the Association of Business Mentors (ABM) has been shortlisted in four categories at the prestigious Memcom Excellence Awards 2025. Being recognised across such a diverse range of categories is a significant achievement and reflects the breadth of work taking place across the organisation. From strengthening our membership offering and embracing […]
Why mentor matching matters in workplace mentoring programmes
A workplace mentoring programme can look excellent on paper and still struggle to deliver meaningful results. Often, the problem starts with the mentor match. According to ABM’s Unlocking Impact research, 39% of HR and People Directors identified mentor-mentee matching as a major challenge in workplace mentoring and coaching programmes. That is hardly surprising. The quality of the […]
Why professional business mentoring matters – successful business leaders don’t go it alone
I recently had the privilege of speaking at a University Business School awards ceremony; a great event and a real pleasure to meet those who will undoubtedly be in the next wave of inspiring business leaders. Whilst the brief was quite relaxed, I was asked to include my views on which skills were most important […]
How to become a business mentor in the UK
Most people do not set out to become a business mentor. They arrive there through experience: building businesses, leading teams, supporting colleagues and helping founders work through difficult decisions. Over time, many realise the part they value most is helping other people think more clearly and move forward with confidence. That experience matters, but if […]
Why workplace mentoring programmes fail and how to design one people actually have time for
Mentoring doesn’t usually fail because people don’t believe in it. It fails because nobody has time. In the Association of Business Mentors Unlocking Impact research, 47% of HR and People Directors cited lack of time and availability as the biggest barrier to successful workplace mentoring and coaching. That should be a red flag for any organisation investing […]
My mentoring journey: why I joined the ABM board
There is a saying in mentoring circles that people become mentors for one of two reasons. Either they had an exceptional mentor themselves, someone who believed in them, steered them, and helped them see what they were capable of. Or they didn’t, and they know exactly what that absence cost them. I am firmly in […]
What is mentor accreditation and why does it matter?
Mentor accreditation can sound a bit dry at first. A badge. A process. Another professional hoop to jump through. In practice, it is much more useful than that. Accreditation is how a mentor shows they can do the work to a recognised standard. It gives clients, businesses and mentees a reason to trust the person […]
ABM Chair – My mentoring journey through business life
I’m not sure when I first experienced mentoring. When I reflect, I’m not sure it was called that back then. I have been incredibly fortunate in my business life to have had, at all stages, supportive people around me who I have been able to turn to for support and guidance. These people were my […]
Why professional standards matter in business mentoring
Business mentoring is a growing and increasingly valued profession, playing a powerful role in helping leaders, teams and organisations develop and thrive. But unlike many established professions, mentoring is not formally regulated. That means anyone can call themselves a mentor, regardless of training, experience or ethical grounding. For clients, organisations and the wider profession, that creates risk. At the […]
