Alan Jenkins - Windows, Stairs and Doors Ltd

Alan started his own business in 2003 having previously worked for a range of builders’ merchants and joinery companies. He identified a gap in the market and had steadily built up the business to a point where he needed to decide how he was going to continue to grow the business and move to the next level. He approached Business Link Wessex for support who identified that Alan might benefit from mentoring, so they referred him to the Dorset Business Mentors programme.

The Role of Dorset Business Mentors

“After setting up the business and developing what I believed to be the focus of my company, I found myself suddenly at a point where I was unsure of what I was doing, doubting my direction and needing to find a sounding board with someone who knew at what point I was at, and who would talk me through the next step in developing my business.

Business Link were very useful in providing seminars which helped in honing my sales and administration skills but I still felt very isolated and at arms length from anyone understanding my direct needs and uncertainties, however I did pick up a leaflet from one of the Business Link seminars telling me about the Dorset Business Mentors scheme. Following a telephone conversation and meeting with Mick, I was assigned a mentor who has successfully guided me, listened to me and generally given me the confidence to take the next step forward with my company. He is not there to dictate what I am to do, rather he listens to my tales of woe and together, breaks down the issues letting me see for myself what needs to be done whilst illustrating what possible issues may or may not arise.

Mentoring has not meant a fixed time at a fixed place on a fixed day, rather an "as and when" situation when I need it, be it a five minute phone call or a 2 hour meeting at the office.

One particular thing that my mentor has helped me achieve is ISO 9000 accreditation. My mentor had achieved this standard with other businesses, and his specific experience has helped me enormously. I can now use this standard to meet the needs of the Certifire Door and Dorset Scheme, which will then enable me to manufacture Fire Door frames and glazed apertures, thus opening up the potential for new business.”