Community update: What to expect from Enterprise Nation in 2020

The number of small businesses continues to boom in our country - there are currently 5.9 million trading firms, which is a UK high. What this spells is another active year for Enterprise Nation as we work to support you in starting and growing your own venture.

Here are a few things to look out for in the year ahead:

• StartUp 2020: The year gets off to a strong start with StartUp 2020. Hosted in London on 18th January for 2,000 start-ups and in Manchester on 25th January for 200, this is the show that offers all you need to become your own boss in the year ahead. Across two events we welcome over 150 entrepreneur and expert speakers who will inform and inspire on the day. Join us to get your year off to the best possible start!

• Online support: We continue to invest in EnterpriseNation.com to build a marketplace connecting you with thousands of pieces of content, events, peers, experts and savings on business essentials. Expect to see new features as we build a dynamic system that personalises recommendations for you.

• National training campaigns: Education and training will be delivered in all parts of the UK on topics ranging from digital skills and access to finance to mental wellbeing and productivity. This will translate into 300-plus events delivered by Enterprise Nation and hundreds more by advisers who offer workshop sessions on their particular niche.

• Highlight events: 2020 sees one of our most popular events, Festival of Female Entrepreneurs, expand to three locations. The Exchange series continues to match small businesses with large retailers and Amazon Academy events train online sellers to be their best. The year will close with Next Gen Fest - a celebration of young entrepreneurs and their contribution to the economy.

• Local Leaders: Get connected in your area by attending a meet-up hosted by one of 15 Local Leaders. This number will expand to 30-plus in 2020 as we respond to one of the key findings from the Small Business Barometer showing many of you feel lonely and want to be better connected in your area. Local Leaders are now in place to facilitate just that. We will be profiling leaders across the site in the months ahead and you can connect to your Local Leader via your member dashboard.

• High Street shops: In 2019, we launched Clicks and Mortar, a campaign with backing from Amazon, Square and Direct Line for Business that opens up shops and offers online sellers an opportunity to test trade. The first shop of the year opens in Leeds in January with more shops to follow. Get in touch if you'd like to try a pop-up in 2020.

This work could not happen without the support of our corporate partners. Thank you to TSB, Facebook, Amazon, Square, Direct Line for Business O2, Xero, Bruntwood, Bizspace and ICAEW among others for your ongoing commitment to the small business community.

I hope you enjoy this suite of support that's been designed with you in mind. Please email me at emma@enterprisenation.com if you have any feedback on what Enterprise Nation should be doing more or less of.

Happy New Year!