Help To Grow
Help to Grow: ABM membership upgrade path
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Why upgrade?
Your Help to Grow membership is designed to support you in gaining more experience as a mentor through volunteering opportunities. By upgrading your ABM membership, you gain access to commercial opportunities and can showcase your commitment to delivering the highest standard of professional business mentoring.
Opportunities
Elevate your professional visibility and grow your mentoring business. (Members & Fellows only)
- Feature on the public ‘Find a Mentor' directory
- Access ABM commercial projects and contracts
- Stand out with an ABM post-nominal
Development
Access a wide selection of mentoring resources, training courses and ILM qualifications.
- Access a wealth of ABM skill development resources
- Participate in regular networking events and training opportunities
- Join quarterly Mentoring Circles
Commitment
Amplify your credibility by showcasing your commitment to professional standards in business mentoring.
- Sign up to the ABM's professional standards
- Showcasing your expertise by adhering to ABMs competency framework
- Receive a Membership certificate
Upgrade Today
The ABM membership pathway consists of three levels: Affiliate, Member, and Fellow. Each tier is designed to provide you with the best support on your mentoring journey, depending on your experiences and ambitions.
Why join as an ABM Affiliate Member?
This membership is perfect for business professionals interested in mentoring. No previous mentoring experience is required. Gain access to a wealth of skill development resources to kickstart your mentoring journey.
Affiliate Member Criteria:
- Interest in professional business mentoring.
- No prior mentoring experience required.
Encouraged:
- Attend one group supervision and/or 1-2-1 session per year.
- Complete CPD through the ABM.
- Complete the ABM Art of Business Mentoring short course (discounted).
ABM Affiliate Fee: £84 (inc. VAT)
Why join as an ABM Member?
Connect with business owners through our “Find a Mentor” directory, elevate your mentoring practice with our variety of skill development resources, receive discounted ILM qualifications, and stand out with an ABM post-nominal (MABM).
ABM Member Criteria:
- Have worked as a mentor or coach with at least three businesses over the last two years, totaling 30 hours.
- Have started, run, or owned a business, or have played a significant operational role in such a business.
- Hold Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Encouraged:
- Obtain ABM ILM5 or ILM7 professional mentoring qualifications.
- Complete a minimum 20 hours of CPD every year through formal and informal training.
- Attend 3 hours of Group Supervision and/or 1-2-1 sessions per year.
ABM Member Fee: £144 (inc. VAT)
Why join as an ABM Fellow?
Fellowship of the Association of Business Mentors (ABM) recognises experienced, high-quality business mentors who demonstrate professional competence, commercial credibility, and a commitment to ethical practice.
As an ABM Fellow, you will:
- Be recognised as a Fellow mentor in the ABM Find a Mentor directory
- Gain access to exclusive ABM opportunities
- Be eligible to deliver ABM training and programmes
- Enhance your professional credibility through the FABM post-nominal
Core Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for Fellow (FABM) membership, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Have delivered 30+ hours of business mentoring in the past two years with at least three businesses
- Have founded, owned, managed, or held a senior operational role within a business
- Hold appropriate Professional Indemnity Insurance
- Commit to 20 hours of CPD per year
- Commit to 4 hours of supervision per year
- Commit to upholding the ABM Code of Conduct
Entry Routes to Fellowship
Route 1 – ABM ILM Level 7 Qualification
Fee: £180 (inc. VAT)
- Completion of the ILM Level 7 Executive Coaching and Business Mentoring qualification delivered through ABM
- Meets all core criteria listed above
- Commitment to mandatory CPD and supervision
Route 2 – External ILM Level 7 Qualification
Fee: £180 (inc. VAT)
- Completion of an ILM Level 7 Executive Coaching and Business Mentoring qualification with another provider
- A minimum of one year as an ABM Member (MABM)
- Meets all core criteria listed above
- Commitment to mandatory CPD and supervision
Route 3 – Acknowledged Prior Learning (APL)*
Fee: £660 (inc. VAT) (includes APL assessment, initial application, and first year of Fellow membership; annual renewal £180 (inc. VAT) from year two).
- For experienced business mentors who do not hold an ILM Level 7 qualification
- Applicants must complete an Acknowledged Prior Learning (APL) assessment, including:
- Three assessed case studies, completed in line with ABM APL guidelines
- Meets all core criteria listed above
- Commitment to mandatory CPD and supervision
* Acknowledged Prior Learning (APL)
APL enables experienced business mentors to demonstrate the required Fellow-level competencies through prior professional experience, training, informal learning, and/or other relevant qualifications. To apply via the APL route, applicants must complete the APL assessment and submit supporting evidence as part of the online application process. Additional guidance is available to download to support your application.
See all member benefits
| ABM MEMBERSHIP LEVELS ABM members can update their membership at any time. | ||||
| HELP TO GROW | AFFILIATE | MEMBER | FELLOW | |
| Complimentary Membership* | £84
(incl. VAT) |
£144
(incl. VAT) |
£180
(incl. VAT) |
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| COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS IN BUSINESS MENTORING | ||||
| Signed up to the ABM’s professional standards for business mentoring, including the Code of Conduct and ABM competencies. |  |
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| OPPORTUNITIES & CERTIFICATIONS | ||||
| Identified as Fellow on ABM public ‘Find a Mentor’ directory | |
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| Opportunity to deliver ABM training | |
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| Opportunity to access ABM commercial projects and contracts | |
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| Award of ABM post-nominals | |
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MABM | FABM |
| Listed on ABM public ‘Find a Mentor’ directory | |
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| Certificate to mark ABM membership | |
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| ABM member badge | |
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| Access to discounts and services provided by ABM partners | |
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| Opportunity to feed into ABM advocacy for business mentoring to policy makers and the business community | |
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| SKILL DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING | ||||
| Invites to monthly skills development sessions | |
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| Invites to Connect Live – online national networking events | |
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| Invites to ABM Mentor Masterclasses funded by the Help to Grow: Management Course | |
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| Access to ABM skill development resources on Members Area | |
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| Opportunity to join Mentoring Circles | |
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| Offers on ABM training courses | |
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| 10% discount off ABM Short Courses | |
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| Access to ABM facilitated Peer-to-Peer Support Groups | |
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| The opportunity to study ILM 5 and ILM7 in professional business mentoring (degree and master’s level) (match-funded) | |
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| Complimentary access to ABM’s Help to Grow: Management Course Open Briefing | |
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| Access to ABM’s Help to Grow: Management Course Hub | |
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The Upgrading Process
We welcome applications from aspiring to experienced business mentors. We are here to support you throughout the application process. If you have any questions at any point, please get in touch.
Step 1: Choose Your Membership Category
Select the applicable ABM membership category and complete the ABM membership application form.
Note: Fellow applicants (APL Route) need to ensure that they have proof of their completed APL assessment, as payment is required at this stage.
Step 2: Application Review
Your application will be reviewed by a member of the ABM Membership team, who will make a recommendation based on your responses.
For Fellow applicants, an interview with an ABM assessor will be arranged following submission of your APL.
Step 3: Application Outcome
Your application will either be accepted or rejected. If your application is rejected, we will provide an explanation.
Step 4: Membership Fee and Onboarding
If accepted, you will be asked to pay the membership fee, after which you will receive your onboarding documents.
The application process can take up to two to three working weeks, depending on your chosen ABM Membership.
