KEDA’s Mentor-Mentee Programme helps boost entrepreneurs' income

PENDANG, July 19 (Bernama) -- The Kedah Regional Development Authority (KEDA) has succeeded in helping entrepreneurs boost their income through the Mentor-Mentee Programme carried out under the Entrepreneurship Development Transformation Programme since 2019.

Its general manager Datuk Kamarudin Abd Akib said there were a total of 30 mentees and nine mentors under the programme which involves a total expenditure of RM228,000, with each selected mentee given a full start-up package grant of RM10,000.

“The programme is inspired by the licencing concept in collaboration with experienced entrepreneurs who act as mentors to provide guidance in terms of business operations and management to new entrepreneurs (mentees).

“This programme is seen to be successful in boosting the income of entrepreneurs in the wellness cluster, namely spa and massage as well as spa and beauty,” he told reporters after the launch of spa premises for the programme here recently.

Elaborating, Kamarudin said when the programme was first introduced in 2019, mentees were only given an equipment grant of RM7,000 each to start their business and they had to use their own money to purchase supplies worth RM3,000.

“However, starting in 2021, mentees were given a full grant of RM10,000 each, in an effort to help entrepreneurs and traders whose income was affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

He also said that three mentees comprising mobile spa and home spa operators who were badly affected by the pandemic managed to increase their income by up to 200 per cent after eight months of operating through the programme.

“These three mentees were given intensive guidance and training by Aztie Beauty House to upgrade the treatment services provided to customers.

“As a result of effective mentoring, these three mentees have managed to increase their income and are now renting business premises, compared to only operating home-based and mobile businesses previously,” he added.

Kamarudin said KEDA had identified experienced mentors as the catalyst for the success of the programme such as Aztie Beauty House, a subsidiary under Aztie Group of Companies which has more than 20 years of experience in beauty business.

Meanwhile, Aztie Beauty House & Spa director Datin Siti Salmiah Zakaria said they designed different treatment packages and services for the programme and would monitor mentees for 24 months after completing the course.

“For new entrepreneurs, the first two years are the most critical time. If we leave them for six months, they will definitely face some problems, so we will stay with them. I have been in this field for over 20 years, so there are things that we want to fix and improve,” she said.

A mentee, Ziebeauty Spa operator, Roziah Osman, 52, said the training and guidance provided through the programme were very beneficial in helping her manage the business more efficiently and effectively.

“We are getting better at managing our monthly finances and before this, we were not good at preparing packages. We had to do everything on our own and needed a large amount of capital. I’m very satisfied with the assistance provided by KEDA and mentor,” she said.

-- BERNAMA