Mentoring & Ongoing Support

Who is mentoring and ongoing support for?

Mentoring and ongoing support are designed for SMEs that already have, or are working towards, ISO certification or integrated management systems and want reassurance that they are on the right track. It is particularly useful where a small team is responsible for quality, environment, health and safety or information security alongside other duties.

How often do mentoring sessions usually take place?

Mentoring sessions are typically scheduled on a monthly or quarterly basis, with additional contact around key activities such as internal audits or external certification visits. The frequency is agreed based on how complex the system is, how mature it is and how much in-house support the organisation already has.

Can mentoring support multiple ISO standards at once?

Yes. Mentoring can cover single standards such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001, or integrated systems that include several standards together.

The Garek 10 Framework is used to look across requirements for different standards and to support one joined-up management system rather than treating each standard separately.

How does mentoring help us maintain certification between audits?

Between audits, mentoring helps you keep on top of actions, records and reviews so that your management system stays active rather than being updated only before an external visit. This can include checking that key processes are working, reviewing nonconformities and improvements, and planning internal audits in line with the certification cycle.

The Garek 10 approach structures these activities so they become part of routine management.

Can you support systems that were built by another consultant?

Yes. Existing systems developed by internal teams or other consultants can be reviewed, simplified and aligned with the Garek 10 Framework. Mentoring then focuses on helping your team understand, operate and improve the system, rather than replacing everything unless that is clearly needed.

Do we have to commit to a long-term contract for mentoring?

Mentoring arrangements are usually set up on a flexible basis, with an agreed level of support over a defined period and regular review points. The intention is to provide enough continuity to be useful while allowing the level of support to be adjusted as your team becomes more confident in running the management system.

What does a typical mentoring session cover?

A typical session might review recent changes in the business, check key processes and records, look at open actions or nonconformities, plan upcoming internal or external audits and answer any questions about requirements.

When the system is based on the Garek 10 Framework, these discussions follow a clear structure so that each core process and standard requirement is covered over time.

Can mentoring be delivered online as well as on-site?

Yes. Many mentoring sessions are delivered online using shared screens to review documents, records and planning tools. On-site visits can be added where direct observation of processes, tours of facilities or in-person workshops are helpful. The mix of online and onsite support is agreed to suit the organisation's needs and location.

How does the Garek 10 framework fit into mentoring and ongoing support?

The Garek 10 Framework provides the underlying structure for processes, documents and records, so mentoring and ongoing support focus on how those elements are applied in practice.

This helps organisations see how different standards connect, where evidence comes from and which improvements will have the greatest impact on the overall management system.