The Board works alongside the Chairman to drive forward the Network’s business objectives and activities, ensuring that we continue to serve our members as the voice of enterprise support.
Carol joined National Enterprise Network in June 2012, having worked for a national charity for over 13 years in a similar role. She is responsible for the day to day running of the businesses well as contract management of eight European projects Carol also undertakes the role of Company Secretary, which includes all governance administration. She is a mum to three children and nanny to five grandchildren in her spare time she enjoys keeping fit and socialising.
Team NEN welcomed Lucy in 2021. She provides administrative support to the Operations Director for all aspects of the business including membership and renewals, finance and reporting. With over eight years’ experience in sales/accounts administration in the logistics and retail sectors, plus a passion for customer service, Lucy is central to customer relationship management. Lucy also supports marketing and communications activities and plays an important role in NEN’s European partnerships.
Alex is an experienced CEO, with a passion for supporting enterprise and driving forward the growth of new, emerging and existing businesses from local, national and global perspectives. A Fellow of the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship and an Institute of Directors award winner, as NEN Chairman he advises government and policy makers on strategic trends within enterprise and entrepreneurship, advocating the needs of SMEs. As CEO of MENTA, the Mid-Anglia Enterprise Agency, Alex has been at the helm of the significant work that the region undertakes in skills, enterprise and employability. Alex is a mentor to those from disadvantaged communities, supporting The Prince’s Trust, prisoners and refugees, and he enables the progression of young people through his roles as Visiting Fellow at UOS School of Business and Fellow at the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship.
Craig is the Operations Director at Let’s Do Business Group, a local Enterprise Agency that has worked with businesses for over 25 years. They are a leading provider of support, finance, and training across the South East and East of England. Craig has over a decade and a half of experience spanning managed services, consultancy and organisational learning & development. Through the application of his expertise in strategic planning and programme management, he has overseen the development of a broad range of entrepreneurial programmes; which have delivered over 2,500 unique interventions since 2019. He is a dedicated advocate for empowering SMEs through encouraging collaboration amongst economic development partners and works to drive positive, impactful change, to help them to reach their goals.
Visit the Let’s Do Business website
I have over 25 years of experience working in Economic Development. Having initially qualified as an economist. I have held senior positions within Local Government, in Peterborough, Milton Keynes and Bedford. I am experienced senior manager having previously served Chief Executive of the Cambridgeshire Local Enterprise Partnership and Chief Executive of Opportunity Peterborough, the city’s Economic Development Company for 5 years. Over the past 6 years I have been Managing Director of Deyton Bell and its subsidiary the Enterprise Support Alliance. I have led the delivery of Enterprise support programmes across the UK. Neil brings a wealth of experience of tendering for, and delivering Government funded programmes, and supporting business growth.
Visit the Enterprise Support Alliance website
Simon is the Chief Technology & Investment Officer and director of UMi, a BCorp that simplifies access to business finance and support. Following a decade in the international fine chemical and pharmaceutical industry, Simon has spent the last 20 years in senior economic development roles across public and private sectors. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship and is passionate about responsible business practices. As well as designing and delivering generalist and specialist business support programs, Simon has a particular specialism in finance and funding and using technology to compliment human centred service delivery.
Peter is an established non-executive director, backed by more than thirty years’ financial services experience and a successful track record in strategic management, marketing and PR. Previously Chairman of Small Businesses for NatWest and RBS, he is also non-executive Chairman of the Lenlyn Group and a former non-executive director of The Start-Up Loans Company. Additionally, he is a Director of Primedia Solutions, a bespoke media coaching company and a Director of Journolink Limited, an online platform which provides small businesses with affordable PR in a box and journalists with a matching service to small businesses keen to talk in the media.
Lisa has extensive experience of identifying the needs of small businesses and corporates to stimulate economic development.She has worked in economic development for more than 15 years at a local and regional level and has considerableexperience of working alongside businesses and charities to design and develop strategies and programmes to deliver positive outcomes in support of the economy. Lisa has been a Trustee of StartUp Croydon since 2014 and has contributed to the overall direction and decisions faced by the charity since joining. As Director at Shared Intelligence, she works alongside government at a national and local level as well as enterprise partnerships to develop policy and deliver business support.
Visit the Shared Intelligence website
Paul comes from an accomplished background in finance and auditing with KPMG, having previously studied accountancy and financial analysis at Newcastle University. Since his appointment in 2001, Paul has injected fresh thinking into establishing the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) as a primary regional player in the fields of incubation, innovation and business support. In addition to his work with the BIC, Paul works with several other organisations, all dedicated to shaping enterprise and supporting communities in the North East. Paul chairs the regional enterprise network group (NEEAL) and is a non-executive director of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.He has been a member of the business support board of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP) and has served on the boards of Sunderland College and Education Partnership North East.
Visit the North East BIC website
CEO of PNE in Newcastle, Tracey has worked in the enterprise sector for over 30 years, developing and delivering regional, national and international enterprise programmes. As a qualified executive coach and leadership montor, her passion lies in supporting people to achieve their aspirations and, in particular, supporting entrepreneurs and purpose-led businesses to have a positive social and environmental impact. Tracey is also a Director of North East Workspace and Trustee of the PNE Foundation.
Visit the PNE Foundation website
Matt Smith is Vice President of Global Entrepreneurship Network – an international nonprofit that operates programmes across 200 countries and territories aimed at making it easier for anyone, anywhere, to start and grow a business. Matt has worked at the heart of the UK’s world-leading entrepreneurial ecosystem since 2008, first as co-founder of student entrepreneur charity NACUE, and in 2013 as co-founder of think tank and entrepreneurship foundation The Centre for Entrepreneurs (CFE), where he remains a senior fellow advising CFE on its research and communities, facilitating partnerships, and providing overarching strategic guidance. He was a member of the SME Advisory Board to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for nearly three years up to March 2020. Matt helped launch the European Startup Network in 2016 and has been a Great British Entrepreneur Awards judge since 2014.
