Webmart boss offers free mentoring to budding print entrepreneurs

Webmart chief executive Simon Biltcliffe is offering free mentoring and advice to print start-ups in the form of 10-minute sessions via Skype.

Biltcliffe, who won the IoD Director of the Year Award in 2010, launched Webmart with £1,000 in 1996 and grew it into a £30m-turnover print management business employing 43 staff.

"It used to be a tradition to donate a tithe of 10% of your income to those who were in need," said Biltcliffe. "I would like to start a new custom of donating 10% of my work hours to help others in the UK to develop their business ideas and overcome challenges in the wonderful world of print."

He added: "I think commercially those that have made it in the print industry ought to give that back to the people who are trying to make it in print, which is why I'm proposing to give up 10% of the working week to help young people and start-ups in the industry."

Biltcliffe's Monday Mentoring programme will last for three and half hours from 6.30am each Monday, divided into 10 minute sessions with each applicant.

Anyone interested in applying for a session will need to complete and return a one-page 'Bilty Business Form' (available from lisa.bowen@webmartuk.com) along with up to three questions they would like to discuss.

Applicants will be notified when their session will take place within one week.