The document discusses mentoring as part of the ELIEMENTAL project, which aims to reduce barriers to entrepreneurship. It provides details on mentors and mentees, including who can participate, their roles and responsibilities, and the benefits of participation. Mentors are experienced entrepreneurs who provide support, advice, and motivation to mentees. Mentees are from underrepresented groups seeking to improve their entrepreneurial skills and network. The mentoring process involves scheduled meetings between each mentor-mentee pair to support the mentee.

1. With the support of the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Union.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects
the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the
information contained therein.
1
Guide for Mentors and Mentees
Part I
MENTORING IN ELIEMENTAL
Mentoring is part of the ELIEMENTAL project, carried out under the Leonardo da Vinci
Lifelong Learning. It is run in four countries: Romania, Poland, Greece and the United
Kingdom. The main aim of the ELIEMENTAL is to find out what sorts of problems can
prevent people from being enterprising.
Breaking down the barriers to entrepreneurship is the main goal of the project: there is a need
in the EU to encourage under-represented groups (in this project older women and ethnic
minority groups) into entrepreneurship in order to reduce under-employment, unemployment
and to improve social mobility.
Part II
MENTORS AND MENTEES
ELIEMENTAL
2. 1. About Mentor
2.1.1. Who can become a mentor in ELIEMENTAL project?
The mentors are the successful entrepreneurs or people with relevant skills to support our
trainee entrepreneurs: business owners, academics, people with extensive professional
experience.
The mentors want to support others in becoming entrepreneurial, share experience and
knowledge about how to set up, sustain, develop and improve the business successfully in
terms of social-cultural barriers.

2. With the support of the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Union.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects
the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the
information contained therein.
2
2.1.2. The role of the mentor
The support is individual, means answering the mentees’ questions, assisting in developing
entrepreneurial skills, helping with overcoming individual and social barriers. The support
includes:
 electronic correspondence using e-mail addresses;
 face-to-face support (mentor and mentee arrange a place and time individually).
The mentor’s role could be the following:
 Advisor - supporting the realization of professional goals, sharing knowledge and
experience and to advise in difficult problems.
 Motivator - providing constructive feedback; supporting and strengthening self-
esteem, encouraging development activities.
 Guide - helping in understanding the complexity of entrepreneurship and building
a network of contacts.
2.1.3. Benefits of participation in the mentoring program for the Mentors:
 Improving leadership competencies;
 Access to new ideas;
 Increasing the knowledge in various business areas;
 The extension of contact networks.
2.2. About Mentee
2.2.1. Who can become a mentee?
 Minority communities with low participation rates in entrepreneurship.
 Long-term economically inactive older men & women (over 40) who wish to or need
to improve their capacity to support themselves.
 NEETS (Young people uneducated, unemployment or during practice).
2.2.2. The role of Mentee
 Searching for ways to achieve goals and resolving specific problems;
 Active acquisition of knowledge;
 Being open to sharing your goals, successes and failures;
 Asking and receiving feedback;
 Taking responsibility for the entire process of: regular communication with the
Mentor, planning and initiating meetings with the Mentor, preparing them to book the
necessary time and energy.
2.2.3. Benefits of participation in the mentoring program for the Mentee
 Receiving feedback on their abilities, attitudes, and behaviors;
 An increase in self-awareness in conducting business;
 The extension of contact networks.

3. With the support of the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Union.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects
the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the
information contained therein.
3
2.3. Process of mentoring
2.3.1. The schedule
PLEASE NOTE:
Meetings arranged between the mentor and mentee can either be face to
face, via telephone or online, if both parties are happy with this type of
arrangement for communication. While mentors and mentees may
organize to meet via telephone or online, we recommend that at least the 1st
support session is face to face where possible, so that both parties get to
know each other.

4. With the support of the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Union.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects
the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the
information contained therein.
4
2.3.2. Plan of actions
PLEASE NOTE:
We also recommend that trainers assist organizing the initial mentor-
mentee 1st
meeting to ensure this takes place because it can be daunting for
some mentees to initiate this alone, if they have little experience of liaising
with external business contacts.
Part IIIII
CONTACT DETAILS
IN ELIEMENTAL
• More information about the project on:
www.eliemental.org
• Project email address:
info@eliemental.org
• The contact person (for each country):