National Enterprise Network

26/10/2026

Our next NEN Member Huddle will spotlight organisations widening access to fair, affordable finance and practical support for the businesses and communities our members work with.

We’re pleased to welcome Purple Shoots, Let's Do Business Finance, and Venture Community.

Purple Shoots and Let’s Do Finance are mission driven CDFIs, providing relationship based lending to viable micro and small businesses, social enterprises and community organisations that struggle to secure support from mainstream lenders.

We’re also delighted to feature Venture Community, a co operative society of entrepreneurs connecting founders, investors and experts to accelerate early stage start ups and build pathways into self employment.

This session is open to all NEN Members and the businesses you support. If you work with entrepreneurs who need alternative finance options or community based support, please encourage them to join.

17 November 2026, 10am

Email: [email protected] to book on.

22/10/2026

TIME FOR YOUR NEXT BUSINESS VENTURE!

Every second counts when you're building something great. This November, take yours back at Excel London.

Join 25,000+ entrepreneurs, 500+ exhibitors, and 200+ expert speakers for two days built to move your business forward.

Sign up for your FREE ticket now, before the clock runs out.

Business Show Media, a company registered in the United Kingdom, with registered number 12796121 and with its registered office at Ground Floor, Beacon Tower, Bristol BS1 4UB.

12/10/2026

One week until the NEN Member Huddle which is open to all NEN Members and the businesses you support.

Responsible Finance will be joining us to unpack how Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) widen access to fair, affordable finance — especially for businesses that mainstream lenders often overlook.

With £248m lent in 2022 and 95,000 customers supported, CDFIs are a vital part of the UK’s inclusive finance landscape.

We’ll also hear from Let's Do Business Finance and Purple Shoots both CDFI’s working directly with small businesses and social enterprises.

If you support entrepreneurs who need alternative finance routes, please share the invitation and encourage them to join.

Date: 20th October 2026
Time: 10.00am
To Book: [email protected]

01/10/2026

Join us at the next NEN Member Huddle with Responsible Finance for a deep dive into the vital role Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) play in widening access to fair, affordable finance.

Date: 20th October 2026
Time: 10.00am
To Book: [email protected]

This session is open to NEN Members and any of the businesses, social enterprises or entrepreneurs you support.

CDFIs lent £248m in 2022, supporting 95,000 customers, backing businesses declined elsewhere, and strengthening financial resilience in disadvantaged communities.

We’ll also hear from NEN Members Let's Do Business Finance, Purple Shoots both CDFIs delivering inclusive finance on the ground.

A great opportunity for your clients to understand alternative finance options and connect with mission driven lenders.

03/09/2026

The Business Show London 2026 Official Partner Announcement

We’re excited to be partnering with the world’s largest business show this November 2026!

Through this partnership, we’re giving our audience FREE access to both days of the event on 11-12 November at Excel London. It’s an unmissable chance for SMEs, designed to gain everything needed to start, grow, or scale your business.

Whether you’re looking to discover business solutions, connect, or innovate, this is the place to be.

Secure your free ticket here: https://www.greatbritishbusinessshow.co.uk/ticket-registration-business-show-london?PageNo=0&TrackingCode=PARTNERnationalenterprisenetwork

24/08/2026

Sister Aesthetics, founded by Sunderland sisters Hayley Dodds and Joanne Matthews.

With over 45 years of combined nursing experience, the sisters turned their clinical expertise and passion for aesthetics into a new business, with support from North East BIC

From business advice to grant funding, we were proud to help them take their first steps into business ownership.

Read their story 👇
🔗 https://nationalenterprisenetwork.org/north-east-bic-helps-sunderland-nurses-turn-clinical-expertise-into-a-thriving-aesthetics-business/

For two Sunderland nurses, decades of clinical experience provided the foundation for a new business venture, but it was the support of North East BIC that helped them take the leap from healthcare professionals to business owners. Sisters Hayley Dodds and Joanne Matthews, who together have more tha...

23/07/2026

Big policy changes are on the way for micro businesses. Here’s what you need to know.

The new Prime Minister has announced a wave of updates that could affect cafés, shops, hairdressers, pubs, clubs, live music venues and tech adjacent businesses.

Highlights include:
• A 20% business rates cut for pubs, clubs and live music venues from April 2027
• Proposed removal of business rates for cafés, shops and hairdressers
• VAT on domestic electricity dropping to 0% this autumn
• Fast tracked energy projects and potential stabilisation measures for water and energy providers
• A major council housebuilding programme
• Changes to government departments affecting tech and innovation

These developments won’t change things overnight, but they’re important signals for the months ahead.

👉 Full breakdown available on our website: https://nationalenterprisenetwork.org/nen-policy-update-implications-of-recent-government-changes-for-micro-businesses/

14/07/2026

Yesterday’s NEN Member Huddle focused on one of the biggest shifts in public procurement in a generation, the new Central Digital Platform (CDP) and what it means for the small businesses our members support.

We were joined by Shirley Cooper OBE, Crown Representative for Small Businesses, who highlighted how the Procurement Act 2023 is tackling long‑standing barriers to SME participation and embedding transparency, fair payment and “have regard” duties across government.

Adam Hill from the Government Commercial Agency then delivered a practical walkthrough of the CDP, showing how suppliers can:
- Register once and receive a Public Procurement Organisation Number
- Store and reuse core Supplier Information
- Generate share codes for bids
- Form consortia
- Access clearer notices and future analytics tools

With 93,000 notices already published and 64,000 SMEs registered, momentum is strong and the opportunities for small businesses are growing.

Thank you to all members who joined the session and contributed thoughtful questions. NEN will continue supporting advisers and enterprise organisations to navigate the new system and help small businesses access public sector opportunities.

Visit NEN News for the full story and access to the recording here:

The National Enterprise Network hosted a well‑attended Member Huddle on 13 July, bringing together advisers, enterprise leaders and government representatives for an in‑depth briefing on the new Central Digital Platform (CDP) and its role in transforming public procurement for small businesses. ...

06/07/2026

📅 One week to go!

Don’t miss our open session on the Central Digital Platform on 13 July at 10am.

Please share with the SMEs you support — the session is open to all.

Register:

Open session for SMEs on the Central Digital Platform with Shirley Cooper OBE and Adam Hall. Learn how to access public‑sector opportunities

23/06/2026

If you support SMEs interested in public sector contracts, this session is for them.

On 13 July at 10am, hear from Shirley Cooper OBE and Adam Hall about how the new Central Digital Platform will make it easier for suppliers to find opportunities.

Open to all SMEs.

Register:

Open session for SMEs on the Central Digital Platform with Shirley Cooper OBE and Adam Hall. Learn how to access public‑sector opportunities