Yvonne Hellier - Interior Design

Yvonne started off with a career as a sales representative, but then decided that she wanted to pursue her interest in interior design. She began a degree course but after a year she was offered a job and decided to take up the position.

Five years later she decided it was time for her work for herself, and she founded the business five years ago. She had successfully developed the business over this period but found that she was growing the sales line but making no more profit. She heard about the Dorset Business Mentors programme through a friend who was also using the service, and decided that she needed someone to help focus on how the business should develop.

The role of Dorset Business Mentors

Yvonne takes up the story. “I had previously paid for business advice on an ad-hoc basis, but found that I was really being asked to pay for other services that I did not feel I needed. What I really wanted was to get a better handle on things myself.

Carol, my mentor, has made me do the things I needed to do, many of which I knew I had to do but never got round to. As an example, I had been an associate member of the British Design Association for the past five years, but had never got around to becoming a full member. I have put together a portfolio of my work, updated my CV and now applied for full membership.

Carol has always been there to bounce ideas off. She has stabilised my approach to the business, and helped me focus on my goals. In the past I was likely to go off in all directions. Now, I have to do things that I agreed I would within the timescales that I said I could meet.

I have a much more positive attitude towards my business. I am putting in more hours, I have more incentive to work and I will reap the benefits in the future from this more focused approach.

Carol has also been able to introduce me to another member of the mentoring team who has been able to help with new ideas to build the sales line of the business. I have been able to recommend two other businesses to the benefits of the mentoring scheme."