The NCME Network

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.

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.

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!

Why I joined NCME: To find similar enterprise staff to compare programmes with, and steal ideas from! My role is quite unique at my University, 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.

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.