Mentoring Scheme

What Mentoring Scheme does

Reading Business Club is a Reading, UK-based business networking association founded in 1998, operating as an unincorporated member-run body rather than a technology or venture-backed enterprise. The club serves local Thames Valley business owners through fortnightly breakfast meetings held at Reading Hockey Club, where members share referrals, expertise, and peer support in a closed-membership format that admits only one representative per trade or profession to prevent internal competition. Beyond the core networking function, the organisation runs The Mentor Academy — a six-month reduced-cost mentoring programme launched in January 2007 that supports start-ups and established businesses seeking direction change, with mentees invited to join as full members upon completion.

Revenue is generated through three streams: annual membership subscriptions invoiced 12 months in advance (typically in February), per-meeting guest breakfast contributions of approximately £10–15, and reduced-cost mentor programme fees tied primarily to breakfast payments. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, with new applicants allowed up to two free meetings before formal application and committee vetting. Marketing and member engagement are conducted through a blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube video interviews, email enquiries, and the recurring physical events themselves.

The underlying operating model is fundamentally analogue: there is no proprietary software platform, no API, no app, and no disclosed technology stack beyond a Squarespace-hosted website. Member management is committee-governed, and the only formal "product" extensions beyond core membership are the Mentor Academy and a Strategic Board peer-advisory feature that lets members solicit feedback during their presentation slot. The organisation operates exclusively within the Thames Valley geography with no disclosed intention to expand beyond a single UK region.

Name

Mentoring Scheme

Legal name

Reading Business Club

Website

https://readingbusinessclub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Reading Business Club is a Reading, UK-based unincorporated networking association founded in 1998, serving Thames Valley business owners with fortnightly breakfast meetings, referral-based networking, and the Mentor Academy six-month mentoring programme.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Reading

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Club subscriptions are invoiced 12 months in advance, normally in February. Membership fees include the cost of breakfast for one company member per meeting. Mid-season joiners are invoiced pro-rata for the remainder of the current year.
2. Guest Breakfast Contributions: Guests may attend up to two meetings for a contribution towards breakfast of £10 per meeting. This provides a low-friction entry point for potential members to experience the club before committing to membership.
3. Mentoring Programme: The Mentor Academy provides six months of reduced-cost mentoring. Mentees only commitment is payment for breakfasts at club meetings. Upon completion, mentees are invited to join as full members without going through the normal application process.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mentoring Scheme (The Mentor Academy) is Reading Business Club's six-month reduced-cost mentoring initiative that pairs start-up entrepreneurs and existing business owners seeking a change of direction with experienced mentors drawn from the club's network. The broader Reading Business Club organization runs fortnightly breakfast networking meetings at Reading Hockey Club for Thames Valley business owners, providing referral opportunities, peer support, and access to decades of collective business experience. New mentees may attend up to two free meetings before applying, and successful graduates are invited to become full members without going through the standard application process.

Product overview

Reading Business Club operates as a unified business networking and mentoring organization offering three interconnected services: (1) Reading Business Club Membership — a networking organization with fortnightly breakfast meetings where members share referrals and business support; (2) the Mentor Academy — a six-month reduced-cost mentoring program for start-ups and business owners seeking to launch, pivot, or grow their ventures; and (3) Breakfast Networking Meetings — the recurring structured events that serve as the primary platform for member interactions, presentations, and referrals. Members can also access a Strategic Board feature, using their presentation slot to seek peer feedback on business issues. The Mentor Academy functions as the organization's formal mentoring scheme, providing structured guidance to aspiring entrepreneurs who are subsequently invited to join as full members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Mentor Academy: Reading Business Club's initiative providing six months of mentoring programme for business owners, offering expertise from club members since January 2007.

Products and services

• Mentor Academy A six-month mentoring programme providing start-up entrepreneurs and existing business owners with advice, support, and access to experienced mentors drawn from the Reading Business Club network. Mentees commit only to paying for breakfasts at club meetings, and upon completion are invited to join as full members without going through the normal application process. Operating since January 2007.
• Reading Business Club Membership Annual business networking membership for Thames Valley business owners, invoiced 12 months in advance (normally in February). Membership includes breakfast for one company member per meeting, structured member presentations, one-minute business pitches, referral opportunities, peer support, and access to a non-competitive network where only one representative per profession is admitted. Mid-season joiners are invoiced pro-rata.
• Breakfast Networking Meetings Fortnightly structured networking events held over breakfast at Reading Hockey Club, Sonning Lane, Reading RG4 6ST. Each meeting includes a 10-minute member presentation, a 5-minute chair presentation, and one-minute opportunities for members and guests to promote their businesses and request referrals. Visitors may attend up to two meetings for a £10 per-meeting breakfast contribution before deciding whether to apply for membership.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since January 2007 many local businesses have completed the six-month Mentor Academy programme

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Institute of Directors (IoD): UK-wide professional membership body for directors and senior business leaders, offering networking events, mentoring and member services — a broader incumbent operating at national scale with overlapping mentoring and peer value propositions.
• Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): UK-wide membership organization for small businesses providing networking, advice, lobbying and services. Overlaps with RBC on the SMB membership and networking value proposition but operates at national scale with paid services.

Direct peers

• BNI (Business Network International): Global chapter-based business referral network running structured weekly networking meetings where each chapter has one member per profession — directly mirroring Reading Business Club's closed-category, referral-driven membership model.
• 4Networking: UK-based fortnightly breakfast and lunch business networking clubs running open (vs closed) structured meetings. Same meeting cadence and SMB audience as Reading Business Club, with multiple regional chapters across the UK.

Others

• SCORE UK (Small Business Mentoring): Volunteer business mentoring network providing free mentoring to small businesses — directly comparable to RBC's Mentor Academy in mission and delivery, although US-focused in origin.

Emerging players

• Enterprise Nation: UK digital-first community and membership platform for small businesses and start-ups offering mentoring, networking events and content — comparable in mentoring/start-up support intent (similar to Mentor Academy) but with a primarily online delivery model.

Regional players

• Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce: Local business membership organization serving the same Thames Valley region, offering networking events, training and advocacy to area SMBs — a comparable membership-style community in Reading's geography.
• Athena International (Athena SWAN / Athena Network): Women-focused networking and membership organizations in the UK — comparable club-format networking with structured membership, though specialized by audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVgpAnCahdTw4JlWR4d40_g
• Facebookfacebook.com/ReadingBusinessClub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mentoring-scheme

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mentoring Scheme