MINT Business Club was founded by Nicola Jayne Little in 2019.
As a business owner and professional digital marketing trainer working with training providers across the North East, Nicola was meeting people every day who she quickly realised needed more support than just training.
Learning was a part of being self-employed – a big part – but there was something missing. That something was a TEAM. Being self-employed can be a lonely place, and many of the business owners Nicola was training found they didn’t have anyone to bounce ideas off and keep them accountable once they left the training room.
Frustrated by the lack of follow-on support her training cohorts were receiving from their providers, Nicola came up with the concept of combining regular training with elements of mentoring, networking and socialising – a place where business owners could find their team and grow their businesses.
And that place is MINT!
The year that followed changed everything.
During 2020, MINT transformed from being a club that met once or twice a month to be being online, all day, every day.
We delivered months worth of training in a matter of weeks, because our members were lost. Most were working from home, many had to shut their businesses during lockdown. Others saw their businesses growing at a pace they weren’t ready for and everyone needed our support more than ever.
But not only that – they needed each other’s support too. Over the course of 18 months we saw friendships being formed before our eyes (mainly thanks to Zoom!). Members were developing accountability groups, buying from one another, helping and supporting each other every single day.
It was a joy to watch and be a part of.