A guiding hand for fledgling entrepreneurs.

A free mentoring service for Cumbria's fledgling businesses was launched yesterday.

It sees 20 highly experienced business people team up with small businesses across the county to share their expertise and economic know-how.

The Business Volunteer Mentoring Service (BVMS) will match the individual mentors to small business where the more experienced mentor has faced similar challenges during their working life over an average of 18 months. One mentor, Dave Pearson, a retired owner of a manufacturing business in the Eden Valley, said: "I've had a long and successful business career and the knowledge I have could be very beneficial to the less experienced."

BVMS will be run by Richard Knowles, the former manager of Made in Cumbria, who said: "We've found a group of 20 excellent mentors, the majority have been trained and assessed, and some have already begun working with our client base.

"They're all very experienced business people, some retired and others still working, and all willing to impart their hard-won commercial knowledge.

"We are looking for a further 20 volunteer mentors. Cumbria is a large county and we need to be able to cover all of its geographical area.

"I am particularly keen on finding some more in Carlisle, Furness and West Cumbria ( people with retail, hotel and catering, or manufacturing experience".

If you have valuable commerce experience which would benefit a small business and can spare half a day a month: or, if you think mentoring could help you develop your business, please contact Richard on 015242 63100 or [e-mail]