Project Spotlight

Selected emda Projects, in brief.

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Mentoring programme gives Victoria the adrenaline for success

Louth based Victoria Pickles, who owns event management company - VIP Adrenaline, is going from strength to strength after completing a business mentoring programme funded by emda

Victoria started her business in 2004 when she spotted a gap in the market for high end corporate events. She felt that she could offer them in a way that far surpassed what was currently on offer, both in terms of end product and company structure.  It was from this vision and this belief that VIP Adrenaline Ltd was born.

VIP Adrenaline supplies tailor made events to the corporate sector. Using a network of 275 suppliers Victoria’s company, plan, coordinate, run and help companies evaluate their events.

All of the events are designed to meet customer objectives and to deliver a measurable return on investment. Past events have included: flying with the Red Arrows, Formula One Racing, scuba diving and cliff jumping. Customers have included the likes of Dell, Waitrose, Tesco and Rolls Royce.

Victoria believes that the help of a business mentor through the MentoringforAll programme has been instrumental in the success of her business.

“Building a business from scratch requires a lot of self belief and resolve,” said Victoria. “There are often times when you wonder if all the hard work will pay off, but luckily it did. The mentoring programme far exceeded my expectations and changed my thought processes. My mentor helped me to examine all areas of my business and forge strong plans for the future. She helped me to develop the brand and take a new look at the first impression my business gives. We agreed to meet once a month which was perfect for my business and has allowed me to implement real changes between sessions and to get the most from the sessions we had.”

Through continued support and guidance from her mentor, whom she claims brought ‘fresh eyes’ to the business, turnover and profitability has quadrupled over year on year.  This period of growth amalgamated with her being awarded an Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2007. 

Victoria added: “I would definitely recommend other people to consider the MentoringforAll programme. Having a mentor who has brought fresh eyes and ideas to the business has made an enormous difference. Working with her has also given me the confidence that I needed and the reassurance that I was doing the right thing and making the right decisions.”

MentoringforAll is funded by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and Sub-regional Strategic Partnerships (SSPs) and delivered by Nottingham Business Venture (NBV).

For more details about the MentoringforAll programme, visit www.mentoringeastmidlands.co.uk or telephone 0115 970 5550.