One of the priceless industrial traditions now almost lost to the UK is the indentured apprenticeship whereby the craft apprentice works alongside a skilled 'journeyman' for a period of up to five years. In this process the knowledge and skills are effectively passed from one generation to another. Apprentice Entrepreneurs need this kind of help too, but it's hard to come by.

First time entrepreneurs have to largely depend on training courses and even business degrees - often delivered by individuals with no practical entrepreneurial experience. Mentoring by individuals with an entrepreneurial track record helps address this deficiency but there very few around that seriously engage in this activity.

The Entrepreneur Business School provides a limited amount of practical mentoring services to high growth ventures. Mentoring in general business practice is available to all technology sectors but specialist expertise in technology and marketing is only offered in areas where suitably qualified mentors can be provided.

Our policy is to provide mentoring only where we can provide competency in the discipline.

The decision to make an irrevocable commitment to go into business is a life defining moment. We ask that you are prudent and get it as right as possible. Budding entrepreneurs in the early stage of business development need objective advice. While a positive approach by mentors to every project is essential, over-enthusiasm by the entrepreneur for a project which is clearly flawed has to be constructively and firmly handled. There may be occasions where projects have to be abandoned and it is better to face up to the realities before major financial and personal commitments are made.

We are primarily concerned with providing mentoring services to ventures at the incubation or early funding stages. Every project is unique - the level and nature of resources needed to progress it to the point of investor readiness varies widely. Similarly the pace at which projects move forward varies but, mostly, the ground keeps on moving as issues arise and are addressed.

The Entrepreneur Business School does not regard mentoring as a substitute for non-executive directorship but it is a hands on activity, initially involving close quarters working, followed by regular consultation according to the project's needs.

We don't prepare business plans - you should do that but we will help you with the business planning process, the plan's structure and editing.

Mentoring economics

Mentoring is time consuming and it's expensive. A typical mentoring assignment, spread over several months, will take 30 days or even more. And experienced mentors, by virtue of their background don't come cheap. Don't expect to pay less than £700 per day. Nevertheless, this is a relatively small but essential investment for ambitious ventures aiming to convert early stage risk capital into huge successes.

The cost of mentoring support may, in some instances, be eligible for support by public sector bodies concerned with high growth business creation.