FRESHIDEAS EVENTS MENTOR COMPETITION

The winners of the FreshIdeas Events Mentor Competition have been matched to their allocated ‘Make A Difference’ (MAD) Woman mentor following a ceremony in the BT Tower on 7th November.

The panel of MAD women will be guiding the aspiring businesswomen to success over the next six months.  

Innovative businesses ranging from an ethical image consultancy encouraging clients to dress more eco-friendly, an online business for those passionate about socialising and dining out in London, and an idea for a new sustainable, community-run hotel were among the winning entries for a mentor.

FIND OUT WHO THE WINNERS ARE

Follow the progress of the mentors and mentees

You will have an opportunity to follow the progress of the mentees and their mentors over the next six months and perhaps learn some lessons from their experiences.

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FreshIdeas Events Mentor Competition gives women across London the opportunity to have some of the UK's most high profile and successful businesswomen work with them to help them achieve their goals.  Ten women are matched to one of the ten mentors.  The Mentor Panel includes, among others:

• Karen Darby (panel right), founder of SimplySwitch, sold to the Daily Mail for £22m.

• Karen Hanton (right), Founder and Chief Executive of toptable.co.uk.

• Sumerah Ahmad, Co-Founder and Director of Club Asia Radio 963+972AM.

• Jo Haigh, Author and Head of Corporate Finance of MGR who has bought and sold over 300 companies in the last 20 years.

• Polly Gowers, Founder of Everyclick.com, a search engine that gives half of its revenue to charity.

Read the full list of Mentor profiles here



Mentors in the Spotlight:  EaKo Wins HSBC Start-up Stars Award!

Love of the planet is at the heart of our Mentor, Kresse Wesling’s business ventures.  An enthusiastic Social Enterprise Ambassador, Kresse now works on four businesses in the UK.  

Her latest business, EaKo, was named as the 2008 Green Award Winner of the Sky News-sponsored HSBC Start-Up Stars award at a glittering ceremony at London's Dorchester Hotel on Wednesday 29 October.  

This award is given to the new enterprise showing the strongest environmentally friendly credentials.  See an interview with Kresse on Sky News

Coincidentally another of our Mentor Panel, Karen Darby founder of SimplySwitch was a judge for the awards.

Hear Karen's comments on the businesses who entered

As well as being on our panel of mentors, Kresse has been supported by mentors during her business career and she says: "Having a mentor is a great idea if you run your own business and you don’t have anyone above you to guide, support or advise you."


MENTOR EVENT - Wednesday 24th September - Thank you to all who attended this event at HSBC on St. James's Street where we introduced our Mentor Competition.  Read more about the event here. The competition and event is supported by: