Innovation and creativity boost for businesses with new co-mentor scheme
A new co-mentor scheme developed by Winchester City Council will help to break down barriers and improve business skills for creative and non-creative enterprises. The scheme, the first of its kind, will be provided free of charge to local businesses.
The Winchester District Co-Mentor Scheme has been devised as part of the local authority’s Green Economic Development Strategy, which was created in conjunction with local stakeholders to provide a framework to help develop the district’s economy.
The strategy identifies the Winchester district as having strong creative and design capabilities – and sets out the aim of matching that talent with other businesses to boost local innovation and productivity, further cementing the district’s reputation as a leading creative centre.
The businesses will be matched according to their professional skills, and the skills they wish to acquire, to encourage the sharing of knowledge and best practice in order to benefit both parties’ businesses. The council’s Economy and Tourism team will be on hand to facilitate the programme, provide guidance and encourage discussion around topics, with sustainability set to be one of the key focuses.
Speaking about the scheme, Cabinet Member for Business and Culture Cllr Lucille Thompson said: “The Winchester district is home to many fantastic businesses, both creative and non-creative; our hope is that this co-mentor scheme will harness the talents of both to help empower local enterprises and further enhance our vibrant economy.
“The scheme is a great opportunity for businesses to make new connections and learn skills from peers they might not normally have the chance to engage with. I’d encourage anyone interested to get in touch with us to find out more about how they could benefit.”
Organisations or individuals who are interested in the scheme can find out more, including how to get involved, here on our website.