Alex Till, Chairman of the National Enterprise Network (NEN), attended a recent Trade and Gender Equality / Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Policy Insights Forum meeting that brought together representatives from government, business networks, and enterprise organisations to discuss how to strengthen the UK’s business support ecosystem.
The meeting focused on improving how national initiatives connect with local delivery, ensuring that micro, small and medium-sized businesses can access tailored advice that reflects the realities of their communities. A key discussion point was the business.gov.uk platform — currently dominated by larger, national organisations such as the Chambers of Commerce and FSB — and how it could be redesigned to better represent the wide network of local enterprise agencies, community-based providers and other trusted delivery partners.
Other topics included how policy and funding frameworks can evolve to support growth, innovation and export readiness, while ensuring that smaller businesses are not left behind. Attendees discussed the future of the Growth Hub network and how government can better integrate trade, investment and enterprise support under a consistent and easily navigable model. The conversation also touched on the need for greater visibility of practical, place-based support that helps entrepreneurs start, sustain, and scale their businesses.
“Local enterprise organisations are the backbone of the UK’s business support landscape,” said Alex Till. “They know their communities, understand local challenges, and deliver trusted, practical help to the people who need it most. As government reviews its approach, it’s vital that this local expertise remains at the heart of future delivery models.”
NEN will continue to work closely with DBT and partners across the enterprise ecosystem to ensure that policy decisions translate into real, measurable impact on the ground — supporting a stronger, more connected enterprise environment for the UK’s small business community.