Firepot (Outdoorfood)

John Fisher previously joint-owned and sold a business in London. Keen on hiking, John had prepared his own dehydrated meals to take on a subsequent trip to Norway. These proved the envy of his companions and inspired a whole new business producing dehydrated meals as whole and flavoursome as one would make at home (essential for morale on expeditions!). This business is Firepot (Outdoorfood)), located in a converted mill just outside Bridport in West Dorset.

Starting out in a new industry John made full use of available support by way of applying for grants and seeking advice from the DIT which resulted in their signposting the Dorset Business Mentors programme. Understanding the value of having someone to be a sounding board through ideas and decision making John requested a mentor from us and was matched with Richard Evans who continues to be his mentor today. Richard has a background in the Royal Navy, marine industry and helicopter business with particular skills in the development of strategy, safety management and in general business. His skills are translatable to John who was looking to grow his young business and ensure his time was effectively focused where it needed to be and not just on the present but on future strategy. It is worth highlighting that much of the expertise in matching a mentor to a business owner is also about character chemistry and understanding the business owner as an individual with their own motivations, strengths and weaknesses, and context. This case demonstrates our experience in placing just as much importance on potential chemistry as ensuring the mentor has the skills the business owner needs. Richard quickly earned the respect of his client mentee demonstrated by their long standing and fruitful relationship.

In this video interview John shares in more detail his business journey, his experience of mentoring and how he has benefited to date. For those viewers discovering our program for the first time, please note that before a rebrand to Dorset Business Mentors in April 2020 our program was formerly known as Dormen. You will hear John refer to Dormen during his interview.