A new initiative aimed at helping small business owners through the early stages of being their own boss has been launched in Cumbria.

The business mentoring service is spearheaded by former Made in Cumbria co-ordinator Richard Knowles, who has more experience than most of helping small firms to thrive and grow.

Fresh from a 14-month spell travelling mainland Europe in a motor home with his wife, Heather, Mr Knowles is looking forward to establishing the business mentoring service.

He has been recruited by Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency, on behalf of umbrella organisation, the Cumbria Local Enterprise Agency Network, which is backing the free service. "We are delighted to welcome Richard back to Cumbria to kick start this project", said Bob Clark, chief executive of CREA.

"Business mentoring is not the same as business advising and counselling. It's more of a hand-holding service for new and young businesses, where an experienced business person becomes a regular contact for them," Richard told Business Gazette.

"They are there to help the small business to understand its problems and possible solutions, and to help the business to make the decisions itself."

He is now actively recruiting volunteers willing to help people starting out on their own in business.

"I am looking for experienced business people who may be retired or may still be running their business who are prepared to give up perhaps half a day a month in total to assist small businesses."

Richard is putting his money where his mouth is by signing up as the first mentor, and he hopes to line up at least 20 more people countywide over the coming months. Mentors receive relevant training and are paid travelling expenses.

"I know from personal experience that mentoring is very rewarding being able to help a business and see it benefit," he added.

Mentors could help with a wide variety of business issues, from the implications of a firm taking on its first member of staff, to moving from a home to business premises, he said.

He will pair up people, based on the strengths of the mentors and the needs of each small business. "This service will complement the business counselling service already operating in the county, it will not duplicate any other service."

Richard said on a personal note, he was delighted to be back in Cumbria. During his travels abroad, he has compared business support levels in different countries, and says the county has much to be proud of.

"One thing that's very obvious is that businesses here are very lucky with the level of support that they have. In a lot of other places, there is nothing at all."

l Anyone interested in becoming a business mentor can contact Richard Knowles on 015242-63100 or 01539 726624, or email: richard@bvmcumbria.co.uk, or ring CREA on 01539-