Business

Learning central to business success

Five tips that mentors suggest are top of your list. Building a successful business doesn’t have to be something you do all alone. Dorset Business Mentors offer a long-term mentor to support your journey. Alistair Bayliss, Joint Project Manager said; “Having a mentor is a powerful tool for your business arsenal. “A mentor has no agenda or particular axe to grind, other than to help you and your business succeed. They’re not there to give advice or tell you what to do. But it will give you someone to be accountable to, and someone to test your ideas out with. “The road to business success is challenging and requires a keen mind-set, some investment, and for some, even the juggling of regular work alongside your business goals. This is where a business mentor can offer valuable support” Since inception Dorset Business Mentors has assisted over 1600 local businesses with 95 per cent client satisfaction. Here are five top tips that mentors suggest are top of your list. • Formulate a business plan. A comprehensive and thorough business plan that will target all the points you need before moving to the next phase is vital. • Protect your business. Check you have covered all legal and intellectual property hurdles to ensure your business, as well as you and your partners, are be safeguarded. • Build a strong team. No business or business owner can succeed without the right people ready to support you. • Know your numbers. Don’t rely on accountants or assistants to memorise your numbers for you. Make sure you know all the goings-on every day. • Learn, learn, learn. Whether through online courses, podcasts, books, you’re never too far in your career to be a learner. Central to Dorset Business Mentors’ mission is to ensure our service remains incomparable and accessible to all businesses. Accredited and part-funded by Dorset’s local authorities we work closely with Partners who share our mission to support business growth and ensure an effective response to your individual business needs. See www.dorsetbusinessmentors.uk or call 01305 221268

Plough plaudits

The Plough Inn at Manston held a Jamaican evening with a large helping of Caribbean cuisine and a live performance from Antigua-Joe. Owners Peter and Karlene said the evening was a great success and with food, including red pea soup, curried lamb and rum and raisin ice cream, created by Stacy and Brad.

REMOVALS & STORAGE

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Walkers’ guide nets £1,000 for charities

An Ansty business has raised thousands for charity. During the first lockdown last year Carol Wallis and Immy Robinson of Brewery Farm and The Fox Inn came up with an energetic way to raise money for local good causes. The Ansty Ambler is a charming guide to walks, of varying lengths in the surrounding area. Carol said: “It came up when my sister and I went on a holiday to the Lake District. We had two dogs and no idea where to walk. We have lots of people staying here with their dogs. “When I’m walking around the village I quite often meet people with the book in hand!” The Ansty Ambler is available for a £2 charitable donation and so far it has raised over £1000, with £500 donated to Milborne St Andrew First School, which will help build a play area, and £500 to Hazelbury Bryan Primary School in Sturminster Newton. Mrs Waring, headteacher at Hazelbury Bryan said: “We were very overwhelmed and we have arranged a mental health and well-being day on Wednesday, January 5 for all staff and children.” The Fox Inn also holds a monthly raffle which raises more than £200 each time. Donations have been made recently to the Ducks and Drakes Cancer Trust and The Cat’s Protection League. They’ve also raised over £700 for Dorchester Intensive Care Unit in memory of a local resident and last year donated £500 to Cheselbourne School. Carol said: “The guide is ongoing and we continue to fundraise. We’ve sold over 1000 copies this year and are looking forward to more fundraising this year.”

READ ALL ABOUT IT: The Ansty Ambler Picture: Lola Rose

Local charity helps young people gain valuable skills

Retired residents from Lynch Close, Mere, recently celebrated Christmas with a meal at The Walnut Tree Inn. Transport was provided by a minibus that was supplied by Seeds for Success, a local youth organisation, and the minibus was driven by local councillor, George Jeans. Seeds4Success is a youth work charity based in Mere, which provides opportunities for personal and social development for young people living in South West Wiltshire. They run open access youth clubs, targeted programmes for those with additional needs and functional skills programmes focusing on literacy and numeracy, helping them develop skills towards employment and giving back to their local communities. A recent project has been collecting ash trees felled because of ash dieback disease and chopping them into logs. These logs will be delivered to those in their communities suffering from fuel poverty.

Residents of Lynch Close enjoy their Christmas lunch at the Walnut Tree Inn. Photo by George Jeans

One young participant has achieved a food and hygiene certificate, a first aid certificate and a strimming certificate. All because the S4S team have the time and dedication to organise the courses. He has work experience because he has been at S4S, improving his chances of work as a young disabled person. With the S4S team’s assistance, He got his first part time job, which he has held for over a year. For more information about Seeds for Success, go to www.seeds4success.org. uk