Output details

A Review of Mentoring Literature and Best Practice

The research, commissioned by NESTA, investigated the impact of a mentoring intervention for creative entrepreneurs. A group of entrepreneurs identified as directors, managers or owners of high-growth creative businesses (at least £750k turnover, up to three years old) were selected to take part in the Creative Business Mentor Pilot. Individuals from the advertising, digital media and independent TV production sectors were matched with successful established creative entrepreneurs who provided mentoring support over a two-year period. I led the impact evaluation of the programme which sought to estimate the net economic impact of the intervention as well as documenting some more qualitative benefits. In addition to the creative sectors described above, NESTA also supported games industry entrepreneurs through a more intensive mentoring programme. The evaluation project considered the relative benefits of each. In this initial publication, we undertook a literature review of the wider mentoring literature in order to assess the likely applicability of mentoring as an intervention for creative entrepreneurs. Other publications for NESTA covered the findings of the evaluation (these are also included here as part of the same submission). As a result of the work, NESTA was able to show a quantification of the benefits gained by the businesses which then led to support for a second cohort being supported. Moreover, the relationships developed through the games mentoring programme specifically has led on both to a publication for supporting emerging games companies for which I contributed a chapter (attached), and a NESTA-backed but games industry led initiative to develop a UK-based publisher, owned and managed by a games industry consortium.