A body to represent the modern small business owner

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Enterprise Nation has helped thousands of people start and grow their businesses. Led by founder, Emma Jones CBE, Enterprise Nation connects you to the resources and expertise to help you succeed.

Politics

In today's Financial Times, there is a piece questioning the role of representative bodies when it comes to the interests of business. 

 as saying the Federation of Small Businesses represents older industries and is mainly male. This won't have won me friends at the FSB but it's why we launched Enterprise Nation membership in 2014, to support and represent the interests of today's modern business owner who we did not feel were being well served.

Small business and entrepreneurship has changed dramatically over the past decade in which I've been involved. The UK is experiencing record startup rates as people in their millions hold down the day job and build a business at nights and weekends (we call it 'Working 5 to 9' and host our startup class on a Saturday to accommodate all those wanting to become their own boss in their own time and on their own terms.) Technology has been a key enabler and we've witnessed a surge in people of all ages, genders and backgrounds turn a passion for what they love, into a profitable concern.

All these businesses are starting and successfully growing through going global, selling to big retailers and focusing on what they do best and outsourcing the rest.

We met these businesses every single day 

 and increasingly felt their views were not being represented to government and other large organisations.

That's why we formed the Enterprise Nation membership. For a small sum per year, small businesses 

, be supported, and know their views and requests were being taken care of.

In the past 12 months, we've secured changes from the government when it comes to starting and growing a business from home, lobbied on VAT MOSS issues, created a wishlist calling for 10 points from childcare expenses being tax deductible through to a review of benefits for the self-employed (which we were delighted to see the government act on last week) and much more.

Over the next couple of months you'll see yet more action and representation as we announce regional Enterprise Champions and open a new Hub to act as a physical space for small businesses to meet, learn, and tell us how they're operating and what could make business life better.

We feel there's a vital need for groups to represent small business. As the small business owner, it's your choice as to which one most represents your views and matches your identity.

Emma Jones is founder of Enterprise Nation

<p>I'm a <a href='http://www.danmartinuk.com'>freelance content creator and event host</a> who helps small businesses and the organisations that support them. I have 18 years of experience as a small business journalist having interviewed hundreds of entrepreneurs from billionaires like Sir Richard Branson to the founders behind brand new start-ups. I've worked for a range of leading small business publications and support groups, most recently as head of content at Enterprise Nation where I was responsible for the prolific output of content on the company's blog and social media. I'm based in Bristol where I run and host regular events with the local small business community and have strong connections to major business organisations in the south west region. In total, I've hosted over 50 events; from intimate meet-ups to conferences with an audience of hundreds including events for international brands like Facebook and Xero. I'm also a big fan of podcasts having hosted Enterprise Nation's Small Business Sessions as well as lots of online events including Facebook Live interviews, webinars and three live web chats from inside 10 Downing Street. With my partner, I co-run Lifestyle District, a lifestyle blog focused on culture, art, theatre and photography.</p>

<p>I'm here to help. I'm volunteering free advice calls of up to an hour as part of the Recovery Advice for Business scheme, over the next 6 months. Please get in touch to see how I can help your business.&nbsp;</p>

Freelance content creator & event host

'An incredible opportunity for my brand': Inside Enterprise Nation's Oxford Street pop-up

We speak to some of the businesses selling in our London pop-up store.

Lucy is a jargon free, social media trainer and consultant. Lucy is a #SheMeansBusiness accredited trainer and founder of SocialDayUK the UK’s biggest social media marketing festival. Lucy is also a Director at Avviso Media, a digital marketing agency that specialises in content and social media marketing for B2B and events brands. Lucy’s passion is to up-skill women and so set up DigitalWomen with Natwest, a community created to empower 1 Million plus women through digital skills which holds regular events and highlights the great work women are doing in digital and entrepreneurship.

Director

Social media marketing for small Business

A group to learn and share social media advice and tactics

&lt;p&gt;I help emerging&amp;nbsp;and established&amp;nbsp;product businesses increase sales and profit from their stock&amp;nbsp;investment.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;With 25 years broad sector blue chip retail experience I can help in the following areas:&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;? Driving Sales and Profit&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;? Inventory Management&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;? Strategy&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;? New Product Development&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;? Merchandising and Buying best practice&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;? Reporting&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;? E-commerce / Omni Channel Commerce&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;? Sourcing&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;? Getting stocked in major retailers&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;? Developing own-brand products&lt;/p&gt;

Retail Consultant

Helping you grow sales and profit in retail and e-commerce

&lt;p&gt;I help emerging&amp;nbsp;and established&amp;nbsp;product businesses increase sales and profit from their stock investment.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;With 25 years broad sector retail and e-commerce experience I can help in the following areas:&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;✅ Driving Sales and Profit&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;✅ Inventory Management&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;✅ Strategy&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;✅ New Product Development&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;✅ Merchandising and Buying best practice&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;✅ Bu

&lt;p&gt;Accounting is our superpower. We are your new secret weapon in the battle to evolve your business. With our team of experts at your fingertips, all your accounting worries, from receipts to compliance and advisory, are a thing of the past. The team at Finance Box are able to take on whatever it is that you need. We can take on the simple bill processing through to all the compliance and further still to advisory services. Each service can be switched on or off as you need. Our pricing is super-transparent and you only pay for what you need at each service level.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;I'm Steve, CEO - but more commonly known as 'The Mechanic' as I am often building automations to make busines easier.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

Steven Case

&lt;p&gt;Accounting is our superpower. We are your new secret weapon in the battle to evolve your business. With our team of experts at your fingertips, all your accounting worries, from receipts to compliance and advisory, are a thing of the past. The team at Finance Box are able to take on whatever it is that you need. We can take on the simple bill processing through to all the compliance and further still to advisory services. Each service can be switched on or off as you need. Our pricing i

A body to represent the modern small business owner

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