Initially, our members were drawn solely from traditional enterprise agencies – those that provided independent and impartial advice, training and mentoring to new and emerging businesses. As the enterprise support sector has developed, so has our membership base and we are proud to now also represent Chambers of Commerce, local authorities, other specialist enterprise providers, universities and corporate organisations across England.
Since rebranding to National Enterprise Network, our focus has been on highlighting the valuable work enterprise support organisations do to encourage and support pre-start and start-up businesses across England.
National Enterprise Network is the home of enterprise support. Our focus is now on representing, uniting and supporting all organisations who are passionate about inspiring and encouraging enterprise.

At first, we weren’t convinced that we would get good value for money from being NEN Associates but we have been proved wrong. We have built some great relationships with other members and last years conference, and CEO round table, were worth the membership fee alone.

Without NEN we would really feel alone. NEN makes us feel part of something much wider than just us in Scarborough. It links us with other organisations with the same ethos and goals, but ones that also face the same challenges. Together we are stronger.

NEN provides a great platform for networking and sharing experiences with other enterprise agencies and business support providers. It also helps in raising the business support sector’s profile and position with Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and senior government decision makers – all of which helps us to continue to help start-ups and small businesses.

The strategic added value of being a NEN member and supporter is significantly important to Menta for three reasons. Firstly, it enables us to be nationally recognised. Secondly, it gives us the BEIS accreditation and quality standard. And thirdly, it gives us the opportunity to work with like-minded CEOs from across the country to share ideas and best practice.

Portobello Business Centre has been a member of the NEN since the start – we’ve always found strength and support from the membership whenever we’ve asked for it.

Being a member of NEN not only validates our work in building and fostering enterprise, but connects us with likeminded organisations where we can collaborate and influence the sector.

AES has been a member of NEN for a number of years and we really feel like it is one big family. If we have a problem or an issue we can rely on the support of NEN to help us out. The NEN team work really hard to make sure our sector is recognised by government and other organisations that influence policy on business support.

NEN offers us opportunities that we cannot get elsewhere, and this enables us to offer enhanced support to our clients. It’s great to be part of a network that offers so much and to see how us and other enterprise agencies are making such an impact is fantastic.