Register your business for a Mentoring for Growth session

Mentoring for Growth (M4G) is a mentoring program which helps you to engage with experienced business mentors through a free mentoring session. Our experienced mentors volunteer their time to help business owners and build stronger small businesses across Queensland.

M4G offers insights, options and suggestions relating to challenges and opportunities that you may be facing in your business.

Eligible businesses

To register for an M4G session, your business must have:

• an Australian business number (ABN)
• Queensland headquarters or significant Queensland operations
• commenced business operations
• a specific business opportunity or challenge to discuss.

How our mentors can assist you

M4G business mentors can help you with a range of business challenges or issues you may be facing. Your mentors have a broad range of experience, knowledge and expertise to offer. Some common discussion topics include these business basics:

• cash flow
• growth strategies
• marketing and sales
• business development
• finance
• human resources
• workforce management
• cybersecurity
• export and investment.

We will use the information provided on your registration form to identify the best available mentor with the most relevant skills, experience and knowledge for your business needs.

Depending on the stage of your business, we have mentors who have connections in the investment community, however we cannot guarantee that mentors will provide this information.

Note: Mentors cannot provide you with any kind of professional advice, including legal, financial or human resources (HR) assistance.

How M4G sessions are delivered

M4G is available to businesses across Queensland and sessions are currently being delivered predominantly online.

There are 3 types of sessions:

Start-up sessions

Start-up sessions are available for early stage businesses and will provide guidance and insights on establishing strong business foundations and understanding the fundamentals of starting a business.

These sessions run for 45 minutes with one mentor.

Mentor chats

Mentor chats are available for established businesses requiring assistance to address a particular business challenge or opportunity.

These sessions generally run for 60 minutes with two mentors.

Mentor panels

Mentor panels are available for established businesses that are experiencing significant growth, making a substantial financial turnover or are expanding their workforce. They may also be looking at succession planning.

These sessions will provide strategic insight and suggestions around navigating growth, opportunities and challenges.

The sessions generally run for 90 minutes with 3–4 mentors, including a chairperson.

How to register for M4G

Complete our registration form and provide as much information as you can about the challenges you are experiencing.

This information will help us to select the best mentor(s) for you, and to schedule a free session without delay. Our mentors also rely on your registration information to prepare for your mentoring session.

If you have a business plan, there is an option to submit a copy with your registration.

Register for M4G

Note: As part of the registration form you will be asked to agree to our terms and conditions for mentees.

Preparing for your M4G session

Remember to bring along any relevant documents or financial information you think will help with your mentoring session.

An M4G team member will facilitate your session and take notes.

After your M4G session

The M4G team will email you a summary of the main points mentioned during your mentoring session, along with links to any relevant information and contact details for your mentors should you wish to establish a business relationship with them after your session.

While mentors are unable to tout for business or promote their own business before or during your session, they may contact you after your session to offer their services. You are under no obligation to accept their offer.

Most mentors are happy for you to send a follow up email should you wish to clarify any suggestions made during the session.

Booking another session

You may book multiple sessions but not on a regular basis. We recommend that you book a follow-up session in 6 months' time, however, we cannot guarantee you will have the same mentor(s) at your next session.

More information

The Ask a mentor article series provides information and tips from our M4G mentors on different topics.

If your business is currently not operating, we have useful tools and information to help you start your business. This includes business planning tools, the Business Launchpad and a business readiness health check which, when completed, provides you with a personalised action plan of information and resources to help you start and run your business.

Contact us

Email the M4G team at m4g@desbt.qld.gov.au for more information about the program.