Aerosol Solutions

Stuart and Linda Graham launched Aerosol Solutions 22 years ago to provide products for a range of industries. As well as its core aerosols, it also offers bulk chemicals, absorbent pads and handy wipes to the construction, engineering, automotive and maintenance sectors.

The firm, which is based in Derby, has used Mentor for many years for guidance on a range of HR issues, including health and safety, employment law and training. “It's like having a whole HR department for a tiny fraction of the cost of employing someone,” says Stuart. “They do our staff contracts, they help us with employment issues, they guide us on what we can and can't do. We can ring them at any time with a query, and they insist there are no silly questions.”

A fair approach

Mentor really came into its own during lockdown when it assisted remotely on an HR matter. “We were just able to hand the whole thing over to Mentor, and they were fair and objective and took all the pressure off us,” says Stuart.

“Everything took place via Zoom, but our Mentor contact, Rhona, was very efficient and well-organised. She took care of all the paperwork, and we were able to get on with our business.

“Apart from physically relieving us of all the work around this issue, Mentor just gave us peace of mind and confidence that we could leave the entire process to them. It allowed us to give 100% focus to running our business through the pandemic.”

An everyday helping hand

Stuart says Mentor gives him confidence in day-to-day situations, too. “We'll check aspects of health and safety, or payroll, or staff contracting. Make no mistake, they'll be quick to tell us if we're doing something wrong, and we'll be quick to act on their advice. It gives you such a great back-up, knowing you've got Mentor's team of employment law experts behind you. The core values of our company are honesty and integrity - with our customers, our suppliers and our staff. Mentor is excellent at helping us to ensure we are doing the right thing.”

It's not just a resource for Stuart and Linda, but their entire team. “All our staff have access to training and advice on Mentor Live,” he says. “If they have specific queries, we would normally ask Mentor on their behalf, but if any of them wanted to contact Mentor directly about a particular issue, I'd always be happy for them to do so.”

And Mentor is great value, says Stuart. “You get a great deal of support for your money,” he says. “Why did I sign up to Mentor? Why wouldn't I? All this support, this really professional back-up, with the weight of NatWest experience behind it? It's a no-brainer.”