National Enterprise Network

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

18/06/2026

Join us on 13 July at 10am for an open session on the new Central Digital Platform, with speakers Shirley Cooper OBE and Adam Hall.

This webinar is open to all SMEs, so please share with the businesses you support.

Register here:

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

15/06/2026

📣 Join us on 25 June at 10am!

We’re hosting a special online session for NEN members to learn more about our partnership with JournoLink and the free Client Intelligence report that members will receive.

The session will explain what’s included in your report, how to use the insights to boost your visibility, and how you can offer these reports to the businesses you support.

This follows a really positive beta trial with two NEN members, so we’re excited to share it with the whole network.

📅 25 June ⏰ 10am 💻 Online webinar – To book email [email protected]

11/06/2026

Join us on 13 July at 10am for an open session on the Central Digital Platform.

We’re delighted to welcome: ✨ Shirley Cooper OBE, Small Business Crown Representative ✨ Adam Hall, Head of Portfolio Management, CDP

They’ll explain how the Central Digital Platform helps suppliers find public sector opportunities, understand awarded contracts, and register their information more easily.

This event is open to all micro, small and medium sized businesses, not just NEN members — so please share with the businesses you support and your wider networks.

📅 Monday 13 July ⏰ 10am 🔗 Register here:

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

08/06/2026

Final reminder! Our NEN Member Huddle is Thursday at 10am.
Don’t miss your chance to join us for a live demo with Social Value - https://nationalenterprisenetwork.org/event/member-huddle-3/

Engine a great opportunity to learn how the platform can help with impact reporting, funding bids, and showing the difference your organisation makes.

📅 11 June ⏰ 10am

There’s still time to sign up, email: [email protected]

We’d love to see you there!

We’re pleased to announce our next NEN Member Huddle, where members will have the opportunity to explore Social Value Engine an accredited platform designed to help organisations measure, evidence, and grow their social impact with confidence.