Enterprise Ireland Mentors are senior executives with a proven track record of business success who volunteer their experience, advice and support to client companies, with the key objective of accelerating growth and building client capability. They act as a confidential sounding board, advising the company on developing skills and overcoming barriers to growth.

The Mentor Network gives participating companies advice and support tailored to their needs. The Network is frequently refreshed with CEOs and senior executives with high levels of achievement and with proven skills in marketing, strategic development, organisation development, R&D, funding and first-time exporting across the software, services, lifesciences, environment, food and consumer products sectors.

Mentors can advise your company on:

• More targeted sales and marketing
• Expansion into new export markets
• Improved R & D, production and logistics 
• Strategic business planning
• Staff development and team building
• Better management and financial systems
• Attracting outside investment
• Management succession

Choose from one-to-one mentoring or multiskilled mentor panels.

Mentor Panel Sessions

In addition to one-to-one mentor support, clients can present their business plan / investment proposal to specially convened monthly Mentor Panels. The mentor panel is chosen specifically to suit the needs, sector and required expertise of the attending clients, where they can make pitches on their investment proposition, partnership strategy or simply to gain feedback on their business plan. The Mentor Panels provide valuable, constructive feedback and advice, where clients can test their pitch / proposition in a trusted environment.

"HKPB Scientific found the experience of presenting to the mentor panel to be a valuable experience. It showed us where we were strong and where there was room for improvement. When presenting to potential investors you often don't have long to capture their attention and the mentor panel provided us with sound advice on how to refine our pitch to maximal effect"

- Brendan Kennedy, Chief Technical Officer, HKPB Scientific Ltd, Tipperary

“Working to a presentation deadline was really useful as an exercise in providing a focus. The process itself was professionally executed and pitched at the right level for our needs and readiness. The manner and quality of feedback was incisive, constructive and thought-provoking. The panel comprised a mix of senior businessmen with a balanced view, some with particular experience relevant to our business.  Participating in this learning exercise has proven a valuable building block for us. We also took away some specific guidelines from the frank Q&A session which will be of practical use for the “real” thing.”

- Sheila O’Connor, Avvio, Limerick

If you are an EI client and would like to take part in next panel session contact

Kasia Sobków Tel: + 353 1 727 2719

Or any member of the Mentor Team

Mentor Team Tel: + 353 1 727 2963/727 2928

Mentor Panel Session Dates

Mentor Panel sessions are run around the country on a monthly basis.  The dates
for forthcoming Mentor Panel sessions are as follows:

Thu 11 February, 2010 - Dublin
Wed 17 February, 2010 - Dublin
Thu 11 March, 2010 - Dublin
Thu 25 March, 2010 - Dublin

To find out how business Mentors have helped other Irish Companies read their read their Testimonials  

Mentor Network Grant

A mentoring assignment consists of ten visits over a twelve month period (two – three hours per visit). Clients choose from a short-list of mentors and the goals and objectives are established by the client in agreement with the Mentor at the start of the assignment. Mentors act on a voluntary basis with Enterprise Ireland paying the Mentor a small daily rate and out of pocket expenses. Mentors sign a strict Mentor Confidentiality Agreement with Enterprise Ireland.

The Mentor Network initiative is provided under De Minimis Aid. This means that funding under De Minimis Aid is restricted to €200,000 over any three year fiscal period. Other funding under De Minimis includes Market Research, Wireless Standards Initiative, Key Skills outside the BMW that were approved after 1st Jan 2007.

Please note that support under this programme will form part of the cumulative grant limit within a rolling two-year period for all proposals approved under this category of funding.  For further information, please discuss with your Development Adviser. The grant maximum is based on a percentage level of your expenditure and may be reduced if you have raised funds under the BES (Business Expansion Scheme) or SCS (Seed Capital Scheme) combined maximum level of support available for all funding awarded under Category 1 (Exploring New Opportunities) over a rolling two-year period.

Category 1 includes funding for  consultancy,  recruitment of a key manager,  feasibility studies,  market research, mentor and  trade fair participation.

Am I eligible?

You are eligible to apply for this funding if you are one of the following: A manufacturing or internationally traded services  SME company employing 10-249 people.

A new High Potential Start Up  company.

Companies must not be eligible to receive the support applied for from An Bord Bia, An Bord Iascaigh Mhara or An Bord Glas.

How do I apply?

Prior to applying you must do the following:

• Contact your assigned Development Adviser to discuss your application
• Obtain a four digit Application Code from your Development Adviser which will allow you to begin the online application process.
• First time applicants will be required to register on the Enterprise Ireland Online Application System.

Please click here to apply online

Any expenditure incurred prior to receipt of the application will not be eligible for Grant Aid.

Where can I get more information?

For more information you can email: