Autumn Budget 2026: NEN’s Summary and Initial Reflections for the Enterprise Support Sector
Executive Summary The Autumn Budget 2026 presents a mixed picture for entrepreneurs, sole traders and small businesses. Alongside measures that may increase costs and administrative requirements for some firms, the Government has also signalled a continued commitment to entrepreneurship, local economic growth and improving access to finance. A notable theme running through the Budget is […]
Business for Impact launches to strengthen the UK’s impact economy
NEN Member, Allia Impact has officially launched Business for Impact, a new national community bringing together the people and organisations shaping the UK’s impact economy. The initiative builds on Allia’s long-standing work catalysing mission-led businesses from start to scale, bringing together founders, businesses, corporates, investors, universities, policymakers and strategic partners to build partnerships, share expertise […]
From box room to booming business: Riverside Mortgage Advice announces expansion
Riverside Mortgage Advice, an independent Sunderland-based mortgage advisory firm, has announced its expansion following a period of growth less than three years after its founding. The business has scaled from a solo venture in a spare bedroom to a thriving four-person team, establishing a dedicated office at the North East BIC to meet rising […]
National Enterprise Network Celebrates Excellence at 2026 Conference & Awards
The National Enterprise Network (NEN) brought together leaders from across the UK’s enterprise support ecosystem on 26 March 2026 for its annual Conference & Awards, held at Barclays, Canary Wharf. The event welcomed representatives from enterprise support organisations, government, education and industry, creating a dynamic space for discussion, collaboration and shared learning. Under the theme […]
NEN Conference 2026 – Event Overview
The National Enterprise Network Annual Conference 2026 brought together leaders from across the enterprise support ecosystem to explore how the UK can strengthen its support for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Hosted at Barclays’ Canary Wharf headquarters, this year’s conference—under the theme Ignite Enterprise, Inspire Change—created a platform for open, honest and forward-thinking discussion. Delegates included […]
NEN Conference Photography – Chris Morris PR
The National Enterprise Network Conference brings together leaders from across the enterprise support ecosystem, and capturing the energy of the day is an important part of sharing its impact. This year we are pleased to be supported by Chris Morris, who has generously volunteered his time to photograph the event. Chris will be documenting key […]
Rain or Shine: Sunderland Mum Turns Personal Struggle into Counselling Business with Support from North East BIC
Sunderland counsellor Kirsty Laing has turned one of the lowest points of her life into a thriving new therapy business – and says she’s never felt prouder of who she is. Kirsty, who lives in Pennywell with her daughters Poppy and Millie, launched Rain or Shine Counselling in July last year with help from the North East BIC after a […]
National Enterprise Network (NEN) – Autumn Budget Submission 2025
Who Supports the Supporters? Strengthening the Micro and Small Business Ecosystem Introduction Micro and small businesses (MSBs) form the foundation of the UK economy. As of early 2024, there were approximately 5.5 million private sector businesses, of which 5.45 million employed between 0 and 49 people—representing 99.2% of all UK businesses. These enterprises are vital […]
Smarter PR & Marketing Support for Your Businesses
Helping small businesses get noticed just got a whole lot easier. Journolink’s new AI Marketing & PR Buddy gives micro and early-stage businesses their own intelligent assistant—one that can build tailored marketing strategies, draft press releases, write blogs and social posts, and even distribute PR to the right journalists and channels. For enterprise agencies and […]
NEN Business Barometer – Have Your Say
The National Enterprise Network (NEN) has been supporting enterprise since 1993. Our members are organisations that provide trusted enterprise support to new, emerging, and existing businesses—many with over 35 years of experience working in their local communities. Together, we represent a powerful voice for micro and small businesses across the UK. We know that entrepreneurs, […]