The Wolverhampton Mentoring Network meets monthly to share the wisdom, experience, and insights of a diverse, multi-sector pool of business leaders and leading business growth organisations.
Whether you're looking to grow your business, expand your network, or gain fresh perspectives, our sessions offer a supportive space to connect, learn, and be inspired.
Please note a number of the programmes listed below have application deadlines of early September
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our second Mentoring Network Lunch on Tuesday! It was a fantastic afternoon filled with inspiring insights and valuable connections.
We were privileged to hear from:
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Fungai Ndemera – The Flame Lily Company
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Harper Gill – Vaal & Vaal
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Manjot Singh – Nov Flo Ltd
Each speaker brought unique perspectives and experiences that sparked great conversations and ideas.
We also had a brilliant update from Shirley Hodson Walker, Programme Manager for the Help to Grow: Management Programme at Aston Centre for Growth. Shirley shared exciting developments and opportunities available through the programme.
And don't forget, Aston Centre for Growth is now recruiting for their October cohort of the Help to Grow: Management Programme. If you're looking to boost your leadership skills and grow your business, this is a fantastic opportunity.
Want to learn more/book your place? Click here or email: s.hodson-walker@aston.ac.uk
We’re excited to announce that Karolina Jagodzinska, Community Manager at Be the Business, will be joining us as a guest speaker at our next Mentoring Network Lunch on Tuesday 2 September.
Book your place here.
Karolina will share insights into the fantastic resources and mentoring support offered by Be the Business, including their Productivity Programme. While the current reduced-cost offer for the programme is ending soon, attendees of the event will receive access to a special offer – exclusively available on the day!
Meet Our Business Panel
We’re also thrilled to confirm our inspiring panel of business leaders who will share invaluable insights and answer your questions:
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Matt Weston – Stones Throw Media
(Alumni of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Programme)
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Jane Sommerville – Bowers and Jones
(Recent recipient of the King’s Award for Enterprise)
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Olivia Simpson – FlexSea
(Winner of the Verizon & Unloc Young Entrepreneurs Challenge 2023)
The programme is designed to provide high-quality, practical education and business support to leaders of high-growth small businesses and social enterprises across the country. The programme is designed by leading experts and is run in partnership with the Said Business School at Oxford University, the Aston Centre for Growth at Aston University.
The deadlines for applications to join the 2026 cohort is September 12th
To apply please click here
To be eligible you must be the business owner or main decision maker and not benefitted from recent management education; and the business must have a turnover of at least £250,000, employ between 5 and 50, and been operating for at least 3 years.
Whether you’re launching a new business or developing an existing one, Enterprise Nation can connect you to the resources to help you succeed. As well as some great resources and information at Enterprise nation this month, there are some opportunities to secure funding and bespoke support:
Win a £150,000 start-up fund for your business with Alibaba:
This is more than a pitch – it's your launchpad to global success
Future-proof your business and win big with the Tech Hub email course:
Enter to win a VR headset and £250 cash
Get support sorting your energy supply for your high street business:
It's all here in this free guide
Summer of self-love:
Save time and sharpen your skills with Business. Connected guides
Bring your idea to life for a final chance to win £1,000 with Adobe Express:
Enter the competition
The salary threshold has now been lifted so now employees from any SME within healthcare, engineering and manufacturing living in the Wolverhampton Local Authority postcode areas can apply for the free spaces.
What’s in it for your business?
✔️ Build stronger, more inclusive leadership
✔️ Upskill your managers in digital transformation, sustainability, and crisis leadership
✔️ Immediate on-the-job application and tailored coaching
✔️ Practical workshops delivered flexibly, online and in-person
Next cohort starts: Monday 8 September 2025.
Find out more about this course here or contact WLV Business School Executive Education team execed@wlv.ac.uk
Spaces are limited, so early registration is encouraged.
This is designed to provide participants with the time and space to challenge their own ways of working, improve overall performance and develop approaches which add value to their business. The programme consists of 12 in-person whole day sessions over a 12-month period – each covering a management theme or topic.
For more details/information on costs click here or email: LornaTaylor@blackcountrychamber.co.uk
The 51% Club is the home for ambitious female founders who are ready to scale their businesses and unlock their full potential. With a thriving community of nearly 1,000 members—and growing daily—across the West Midlands, they’re building a national movement to empower women entrepreneurs and create a more equitable business ecosystem.
What’s on Offer?
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Free to join community
- Monthly masterclasses and workshops
- Quarterly strategy planning days
- Annual IGNITE Conference
- Transformative 12-week Female Founder Growth Programme
- Regular networking events and collaborative co-working days
- Vibrant WhatsApp and Slack communities
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Mentor match-making scheme for tailored support
To join the 51% Club, Click here.
💬 Lessons in Leadership: Reflections from Female Founders
As part of our ongoing spotlight on entrepreneurial journeys, we asked two inspiring business leaders—Fungai Ndemera and Jane Sommerville—to reflect on their first three years in business and share their most valuable lessons.
🔄 What Would You Do Differently?
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Fungai Ndemera: “I’d delegate earlier. Being too hands-on slowed our growth. Building a strong leadership team from day one would have freed me to focus on the bigger picture.”
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Jane Sommerville: “Don’t dwell on past mistakes—learn from them. Every setback is a chance to grow.”
🌟 Best & Most Challenging Aspects of Running a Business
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Fungai: “Creating impact through tech—like saving the NHS £4 million with CheckUp Health—has been deeply rewarding. The biggest challenge? Navigating uncertainty, especially around funding and regulation.”
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Jane: “The freedom to shape my own path and build lasting client relationships has been incredible. But adapting to change and making tough decisions has tested my resilience.”
🧠 Advice to Your Younger Self
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Fungai:
- Invest in yourself—build networks and leadership skills early.
- Celebrate failure—it’s your greatest teacher.
- Blend passion with strategy—ground your vision in research and planning.
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Jane:
- Approach challenges with confidence.
- Set ambitious goals that stretch your limits.
- Build a balanced team that complements your strengths.
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