Over the last few months we’ve been doing lots of listening to members from a variety of backgrounds, running different types of businesses.

We’ve been asking people about the ‘challenges’ they face on a daily basis and how Bristol Media might be able to help.

“Mentoring and the opportunity to meet on a regular basis with likeminded people” came up a lot.

So, we’re delighted to announce the launch of an exciting online mentoring scheme where members will be able to seek support, advice and feedback from some of the city’s leading MD’s and business owners.

As from mid October we’ll launch a new Mentor section on the Bristol Media web site and we’ll have a team of twenty five individual mentors, that’s five sector mentors across digital, animation, design, TV, and marketing / advertising. Members seeking business related help, advice or support can post a question to any or all of the mentors. Just one or all of these mentors can then answer that question. The question and answer will be posted on the site offering help and advice to all members and we’ll also categorise these so we have a running archive of subjects that members can refer to as a growing online resource.

Mike Bennett, Bristol Media CEO said:

“We want to help Bristol media and creative businesses grow and become even more successful. One of the best ways we can help achieve this is by drawing together all of our contacts as a network and enabling bright new, start-up businesses to talk to, get advice from and tap into the vast array of experience of some of the most successful and experienced creative business people in the city.”

He continued:

“So whether you’re just starting out, or are on a journey of growth and expansion, this new online mentor scheme will give members the opportunity to unlock advice, views, opinions and potentially new ideas to help deal with some of the challenges business throws up on a day to day basis.”

We’re delighted to have already enlisted the help of Mark Hill from RDF West, David Sproxton from Aardman Animations, John Durrant from BDH, Ian Noble from Bray Leino, Ben Heald from Sift, James Trezona from Mason Zimbler, Fraser Bradshaw from Mccann Erickson, Roger Proctor from Proctor and Stevenson, Caroline Hagen from Reach and Mark Fielder from Quickfire Media who will all be part of our online mentoring team.

In early 2010 we’ll look to extend the mentoring scheme further with one-to-one sessions, rountables and a series of specific mentoring events and programmes.

We are proactively seeking likeminded people to join that team. So if you fit the bill, we’d be very keen to hear from you. For more information about how you can get involved as a mentor contact Mike@bristolmedia.co.uk