Mentoring Matters - Help To Grow

Mentoring isn’t a bonus – it’s essential for growth. 

Yet too many business leaders try to go it alone, missing out on the insight, challenge, and support that only a great mentor or coach can provide. 

I was at the National Mentoring Matters Conference last week with Dave Sharpe, discussing just how powerful mentoring can be. The Help to Grow scheme is leading the way, having now completed 33,000 mentoring sessions—the biggest programme of its kind in the world. That’s 33,000 opportunities for entrepreneurs to learn from those who’ve already walked the path. 

Mentoring played a huge role in my own journey. In How to Make a Billion in Nine Steps, I talk about how learning from others helped me scale HomeServe to £4.1 billion. No matter what stage you’re at, a mentor helps you see the bigger picture, avoid pitfalls, and make better decisions. 

Business Leader has partnered with Georgina Waite and the Association of Business Mentors (ABM) to expand mentoring support for mid-sized businesses. Through peer groups and one-on-one mentoring, we’re helping ambitious leaders get the guidance they need to break through to the next level. 

But mentoring isn’t about being told what to do. The best mentors don’t give you easy answers—they ask the right questions. 

I saw this approach in action at INSEAD, where I trained as a business coach. Asking the right questions unlocks the best answers. A great coach or mentor helps you clarify your thinking, challenge your assumptions, and find your own path forward. 

If you’re looking for a mentor, choose someone who won’t just agree with you. The best mentors challenge you, push you to see new opportunities, and connect you with people who can help you go further. 

And if you’ve already built a successful business, maybe it’s time to give back. Mentoring the next generation isn’t just good for them—it’s good for the future of British business.