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Barcelona Mentoring Program
The Barcelona Mentoring Program is an initiative managed by Barcelona Activa, aimed at nurturing new companies and startups through a variety of support mechanisms.
What are the main aims and objectives?
The Barcelona Mentoring Program primarily aims to support and assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their growth and development. It does this through the voluntary contributions of successful executives and industry leaders who serve as mentors. The program places emphasis on entrepreneurship, innovation, and companies' social and environmental responsibilities. It is also part of Barcelona Activa's broader focus on promoting a more socially and environmentally sustainable economic development model for the city. This includes fostering inclusive employment policies, encouraging a local and plural economy, and promoting transparent and inclusive work practices.
How does the program work?
The Barcelona Mentoring Program operates as a support and advisory initiative for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It primarily relies on the voluntary contributions of successful executives, who act as mentors to these businesses.
The program lasts eight months (with two editions held each year) and includes six meetings which are held with each participant and three mentors to exchange concerns and challenges in strategic areas such as sales, internationalization, and internal organization. The mentors guide the SMEs, sharing their insights, experiences, and strategies to assist in the growth and development of these entities. This help is provided in the context of the SME's socio-economic situation and is tailored to their unique needs and challenges.
The program is aimed specifically at women who wish to be accompanied by mentors to consolidate their business or business project with entrepreneurial projects from any economic sector being welcomed. Previous alumni of the program are involved in identifying and selecting the participants of the subsequent editions.
What is the overall cost?
There is currently no available information on the running costs of the Barcelona Mentoring Program, however, it is worth noting that the mentors voluntarily offer the time to participate in the scheme so overall costs are likely to be low.
How was it implemented?
The Barcelona Mentoring Program is promoted by Barcelona City Council, through Barcelona Activa. Barcelona Activa is an initiative integrated into the Area of Economy, Enterprise, and Employment. It is the executive tool of the Economic Development policies of Barcelona. The initiative is aimed at providing services across various locations in the city and throughout the metropolitan area to cater to the needs of different businesses and individuals. It is essentially a city-driven economic development agency that offers support and resources to entrepreneurs, startups, and established businesses
The program relies upon a small group of managers and executives who are leaders in their sector and have a recognized track record. The foundation of this program took place following their participation in the MIT VMS Immersion Program and Mentor Training programs, which happened over the span of 2012 to 2014.
What impact has been measured?
Barcelona Activa can demonstrate that the program has had:
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10 editions held
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+235 companies have participating
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120 mentees and mentors involved
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Over 400 meetings in total
No further information is available on the impact the program has had on the participating businesses or the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem.
What lessons can be learned?
The Barcelona Mentoring Programme run by Barcelona Activa offers several valuable lessons for other entities wishing to establish similar initiatives.
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Importance of External Learning: The program was developed after participating in the MIT VMS Immersion Program and Mentor Training programs, indicating the value of learning from external, well-established sources to develop effective mentorship programs.
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Targeted Support: The program specifically focuses on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and women entrepreneurs, underlining the importance of targeted support to address specific needs and gaps in the business ecosystem.
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Quantifiable Impact: Although the program demonstrates the level of participation it has achieved, there is a lack of data quantifying the impact the program has had on the wider ecosystem.
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Collaborative Effort: The involvement of a hundred mentors in the Mentoring+ program shows that fostering a collaborative environment where experienced professionals can guide those seeking help is crucial.
