The NCME Network
NCME is the Network for Coaching and Mentoring Entrepreneurs. We bring together entrepreneurship educators and programme managers from around the world to share resources and develop practice. Find out more about the network, meet our members and co-founders, and find out how you can become a member of the NCME.
Share discuss advance
What is the NCME?
The Network for Coaching and Mentoring Entrepreneurs, NCME, was co-founded through a research and practice collaboration between Professor Harveen Chugh and Victoria Nicholl, along with the support of Enterprise Educators UK. The NCME’s purpose is to enable enterprise educators and programme managers to share practices on coaching and mentoring entrepreneurs. We aim to provide the best support possible for entrepreneurs by sharing resources, discussing key themes and advancing knowledge on coaching and mentoring for entrepreneurs.
Co-founders collaborating from UCL and Imperial, Professor Harveen Chugh and Victoria Nicholl
Meetings per academic year (2 virtual and 1 f2f)
The NCME is coming up to its 5th birthday in May 2025!
Entrepreneurship educators and programme maangers attended our EEUK event in London, April 2023
The NCME has over 100 members from around the globe and is growing!
NCME Members
Meet some of our NCME members. They play a key role in adding value to the network by sharing resources, taking part in the discussions and working together to advance knowledge on coaching and mentoring for entrepreneurs. Read below to find out who they are, why they joined and how NCME has been useful in their role.
Lisa Portz
Consultant and Trainer, ZebraFarm
Why I joined NCME: Having a platform like NCME to share experiences and discuss challenges with professionals in the space is invaluable.
How NCME has been useful in my role: Engaging with fellow members has been instrumental in refining my approach to designing impactful entrepreneurship programs. The longer you are in a field, the more set you can become in your ways, so it’s incredibly helpful to hear other perspectives.
Why others should join: NCME is the perfect community if you’re passionate about entrepreneurship, eager to overcome shared challenges, and excited to collaborate with others who are just as open to learning and growing.
Dwain Reid
Student & Graduate Entrepreneurship Manager, Kingston University
Why I joined NCME: Joining NCME was a no brainer as it was being led by Dr Harveen Chugh and Victoria Nicholl, and even better had a focus on mentoring.
How NCME has been useful in my role: There’s not yet been a meeting where a practical solutions/tips/tools hasn’t been offered that I could introduce into my way of working. Hearing it from other people that are doing a similar role is great and there’s the obvious benefit of growing my network.
Why others should join: It’s great to be part of a network that is discussing the mentoring element of our role. The organisers have done well to create a space where everyone feels comfortable to share best practice. You’ll grow your network and learn something new at every meeting. The network is useful whether you’re 5 days in or 5 days away from retirement!
Chris Hiscocks
Enterprise Manager, Biorenewables Development Centre
Why I joined NCME: To find similar enterprise staff to compare programmes with, and steal ideas from! My role is quite unique, so being new to the role when I joined NCME I found it a great way to meet people working in a similar role.
How NCME has been useful in my role: I have found listening to other members talk about their approach to coaching and mentoring really useful to both update and adapt the system I adopted at my University. It’s been fantastic to get some insight into different institutions, and see the wide variety of approaches we have adopted.
Why others should join: The group is very ‘open’ and everyone is able to get involved. Sometimes groups like this can be led by sharing good practice, which is sometimes useful, but this group works well as a chance to ask questions and concerns, as much as show off what you already do. It’s really friendly and I’ve already asked all the stupid questions.
Jo Howorth
Formerly Head of Skills Development, Business Engagement & Enterprise, University of Leeds
Why I enjoy being part of NCME: The ability to learn and share best practice with colleagues and mentors across the globe has been invaluable when setting up new initiatives at Leeds. I lead enterprise and mentoring activities; helping academic colleagues progress their careers, develop partnerships, impactful research and catalyse start-up ideas. Having such a large group of people through NCME who are open to sharing their ideas and experience has been a huge support and I highly recommend you to join.
Ben Cole
Head of Strategic Projects at Loughborough University London
Why I joined NCME: I am always looking for ways for me and my team to be better. I guess I wanted a place to share experience, get hint’s, tips and tools to improve what we do and most of all learn. The network has been a great place to collaborate and I’d encourage others to join.
How NCME has been useful in my role: I’ve already taken from the network tools and tips which I have passed on to the team. They are using these on our programmes and it is making a big difference to those we work with.
Why others should join: The network is a great place to make connections with enterprise educators working to help others to grow their ideas. If you are the sort who likes to bring, borrow and improve then it is definitely a place for you.
Leah Thompson
Associate Director - Entrepreneurship @ Queen Mary University London
Why I joined NCME: I joined NCME after an EEUK session on mentoring, led by Imperial. We have a number of mentorship programmes for entrepreneurs at Queen Mary, so I wanted to meet others who are running programmes as well. Plus it is always good to meet people working in similar areas!
How NCME has been useful in my role: NCME has brought together a diverse group of people with various mentoring experiences and programmes – this has been very useful in shaping my thinking around the programmes I want to develop for under-represented groups in entrepreneurship.
Why others should join: The network is well organised and represented from Universities across the UK, with a wealth of experience and generosity to share it.
A few words from the Co-founders
Professor Harveen Chugh
UCL School of Management
We are delighted to have setup the NCME. It was born on a sunny day in May 2020 with the support of EEUK following an Enterprise Exchange event that we ran with them on mentoring and coaching services for student entrepreneurs. The sentiment to keep the conversation going was overwhelming and the NCME was a natural spinout from that event. We are excited to continue the discussion of key themes in coaching and mentoring for entrepreneurs and growing the network.
Victoria Nicholl
Imperial Enterprise Lab
NCME was founded out of an incredibly positive moment. EEUK had kindly facilitated a workshop Mentoring and coaching for student entrepreneurs: How to design and run an effective service in May 2020, which Harveen and I ran. The energy was high, and the contributions everyone was making during the day were brilliant, and we realised we didn’t just want this to be a one-off event. When we suggested that we would love to continue talking with everyone, we were thrilled with the positive response. The gap that NCME fills is about sharing practical insights and resources around coaching and mentoring entrepreneurs.
My hopes for the future are that we help colleagues across the world set up successful coaching and mentoring services for their founders, and that more startups thrive as a result. In the short term, I would like the community to strengthen its ties, and in the medium term for it to grow.
Recent events
Neurodiversity in entrepreneurship coaching and mentoring
NCME went to Startup Higher in Glasgow, May ’24
Trends and future developments in entrepreneurship mentoring, London, April ’23
Join us
Apply to join the NCME (Network for Coaching and Mentoring Entrepreneurs)