Small business learning through mentoring: evaluating a project

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a small business‐mentoring project, which was delivered in regional Australia. Design/methodology/approach – This paper contains a case study of the mentoring project and focuses on the process and the outcomes of that project from different perspectives. Data collected in semi structured telephone interviews with the Project Manager and the volunteer mentors and a mail and telephone survey of the small business owner/managers who participated in the project, is used to develop a narrative about how the project unfolded and what it achieved. The case study is then examined in light of the literature on small business mentoring. Findings – The case study highlights learning through mentoring can increase self‐confidence while objective outcomes such as increased sales and new jobs are less likely to be outcomes. Research limitations/implications – This paper focuses on one regional area and a single mentoring project while the research was conducted 18 months after the project finished. Evaluation is best conducted during or close to the completion of a project as the lapse in time can lead distort the participants' memory. Practical implications – The case study in this paper highlights some key features of small business mentoring programs: a structured process, mentor training, and the value of other opportunities for interaction between participants during the life of the project. These are all elements future small business mentoring programs can build upon. Originality/value – This paper will be of interest to practitioners involved in the delivery of small business training programs as well as policy makers as it provides an example of a program in operation and the outcomes of such a program.