SMILE (Selected Mentors & Interims for London Enterprises)
What is SMILE?
As part of entrepreneurial promotion and activities and services to
highlight innovation, UCL Advances (UCL’s centre for entrepreneurship and
business interaction) is coordinating a new initiative SMILE (Selected Mentors and Interims for London
Enterprises) to help London-based SMEs grow and develop by analysing business
needs and connecting them to business mentors.
Who is it for?
SMILE is for London micro, small and medium-sized businesses experiencing “growing pains” due to the lack of specific managerial expertise as needed in development phases. The enterprises would have already passed their start-up phase and are now experiencing managerial challenges that are holding back the potential to grow significantly.
Please note the following requirements to be a SMILE participant:
- Registered company in London and trading; or
- Registered company and trading in London (can evidence through invoices).
- Less than 250 employees
- Turnover is less than €50M per year
- Not a retailer
- Not in import/export.
- If you’re interested in becoming a SMILE mentor, click here.
- If you’re interested in becoming a SMILE company, click here.
The benefits of SMILE
For those SMEs who have limited access to skills and resources to develop business opportunities or overcome hurdles, SMILE will transfer outstanding skills, social and professional networks, research and knowledge that will enable them to compete in national and global markets. The mentor/management interim will enable current SME management to take the company further. If needed, the relationship can continue beyond that which is initially arranged by UCL Advances. SMILE is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
Contact information
Ruth Hou
SMILE Service Manager
T: 020 3108 3288
E: r.hou@ucl.ac.uk
Anna Thomlinson
SMILE Service Assistant
T: 020 3108 3286
E: a.thomlinson@ucl.ac.uk
