Flora Hamilton is Executive Director of the Small Business Charter (SBC), which delivers the 90% government-funded Help to Grow: Management Course.
In January, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) issued a public call to expand the use of mentoring in the construction industry to help attract, train and retain the increased number of skilled tradespeople that the industry needs.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, highlighted the multiple benefits for the sector:
“Creating opportunities for experienced tradespeople to mentor others isn’t just good for individual building companies, it’s essential for the future of construction. Through mentoring, builders not only give back but also strengthen their own businesses by developing leadership and communication skills, building trusted networks and supporting the next generation.”
I’ve been fortunate to benefit from being mentored and having the opportunity to mentor others throughout my career. As a result, I’m a strong advocate of the benefits for individuals and organisations. Nowhere is this more evident than the Small Business Charter’s Help to Grow: Management Course. With just under 3,000 business mentors registered with us, there is a broad range of business and leadership experience for participants to lean into.
11% of the business leaders that have completed the course so far operate in the construction sector where time pressure, unpredictable supply chains, and tight margins are a fact of daily life. For many of the participants, the mentoring element is pivotal to the personal and business transformations that they achieve after the course. FMB Scotland President, Pam Wilson, is a great example of a construction leader who has benefitted from the experience.
Why choose mentoring?
When seeking a mentor on the Help to Grow: Management Course, one in five business owners are looking for support with leadership and management, 24% want a boost to their sales or marketing and 10% are looking for support with people-related issues. Whether you’re running projects on site, managing subcontractors, or growing a regional contracting business, the detail of the challenges may differ, but the motivations are strikingly similar.
Most busy professionals and business owners will recognise the feeling that there are never enough hours in the day, an extra pair of hands would help, or a second brain could make sense of competing priorities. In construction, that pressure is often intensified by programme delays, workforce shortages, and regulatory demands. A mentor can feel like you have just that extra capacity by offering perspective, shared experience, or practical ways to get you “unstuck” from whatever you’re grappling with. While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, a positive mentoring relationship consistently helps to unlock potential.
Considerations to set yourself up for mentoring success
Get clear on your goals
Start with clarity. Know what you want from mentoring, whether that’s developing your leadership style on site, improving commercial decision-making, adopting new tools, or entering new markets. Clear and specific goals will help you find the right mentor and make the most of the relationship.
Find the right match (and do your due diligence)
The right business mentor could be highly influential for you and your business. Spend time talking to people, asking questions, and trusting your instincts when choosing a mentor. It needs to be a personality and culture fit as much as anything else. For construction leaders, practical, hands-on experience of similar projects or alignment with future business plans may be a priority.
If you’re looking for a highly qualified business mentor, the Association of Business Mentors provides access to paid-for mentoring that meets recognised standards. Many of the mentors supporting SME leaders on the Help to Grow: Management Course hold an ILM (Institute of Leadership) certificate, which reflects the quality of mentors available to participants.
Create a safe space
Successful mentoring thrives on trust and openness. Both mentor and mentee should feel that their sessions provide a safe place to be honest, share challenges and test ideas. This kind of openness leads to deeper insights, helping to build confidence, improve productivity and deliver tangible gains for the business.
Stay flexible as mentoring is rarely linear
Your needs will evolve, and so should your mentors. Strong mentors stay current, and engaged mentees stay curious. Progress might involve side steps, leaps, or unexpected turns. Don’t be afraid to change mentors as your business grows, projects change, or priorities shift.
Keep it human in a digital age
Mentoring is about human connection. The real value comes from lived experience, judgement, and emotional intelligence – things technology can’t replace. Digital tools, including AI, can support mentor matching and overcoming logistics, making it easier for SME leaders to access the right support for a specific challenge, regardless of location.
Digital adoption can also provide the platform for mentoring networks to connect more effectively and maintain consistency and good practice. This is why I’m part of the National Business Mentoring Council, a major government initiative aimed at improving the quality and accessibility of business mentoring to support business growth across the UK. The Council brings together government, industry, education and mentoring providers, helping ensure small businesses – including those in construction – can find and use the support available to them.
Mentoring for growth
Mentoring can play a meaningful role in helping you to understand the best way to develop your role and, in turn, to develop the performance of your organisation. An external mentor, particularly in SMEs where resource is limited, can help to identify productivity gains across leadership, delivery and people management. Over time, this builds capability, resilience and confidence.
Whatever stage you are at in your career, mentoring can unlock potential and ultimately growth. It might also inspire you to join the next generation of mentors in due course!
