Help To Grow
Help to Grow: ABM membership upgrade path
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
- Showcase your expertise by adhering to ABM's six core competencies
- Receive an 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: £72 (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: £120 (inc. VAT)
Why join as an ABM Fellow?
Gain access to exclusive ABM opportunities, stand out as a Fellow mentor in the “Find a Mentor” directory, deliver ABM training, and further boost your credibility with an ABM post-nominal (FABM).
ABM Fellow 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.
- Commit to 4 hours of supervision per year (paid group or 1-2-1 supervision).
- Commit to a minimum of 20 hours of CPD each year.
- Have completed an ABM ILM 7 mentoring qualification OR an Acknowledged Prior Learning (APL)* assessment.
ABM Fellow – ILM7 Route: £144 (inc. VAT)
ABM Fellow – APL Route*: £660 (inc. VAT)
* Acknowledged Prior Learning (APL) allows business mentors without an ABM ILM 7 qualification to demonstrate required competencies through the knowledge and skills gained from professional experience, training, informal learning, or other prior qualifications. To apply for Fellow membership via the APL route, complete the APL assessment and provide proof with your online application. Download additional guidance to support your application here.
See all member benefits
| ABM MEMBERSHIP LEVELS ABM members can update their membership at any time. |
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| HELP TO GROW | AFFILIATE | MEMBER | FELLOW | |
| Complimentary Membership* | £72 (incl. VAT) |
£120 (incl. VAT) |
£144 (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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| Access to ABM logo and 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 | ||||
| Access to ABM skill development resources on Members Area | |
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| Regular national, regional, online events and training opportunities | |
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| Discounted access to ABM online course: The Art of Business Mentoring | |
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| Quarterly Mentoring Circles with ABM members of equivalent membership tier | |
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| The opportunity to study ILM 5 and ILM7 in professional business mentoring (degree and master’s level) (match-funded, including when upgrade to Member or Fellow*) and complimentary access to Introduction to Business Mentoring course | |
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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.