Small business connections made in the Enterprise Nation community

In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, the value of connections cannot be overstated.

Small business owners often find strength and growth through collaboration and networking. For Valentine's Day, we're spotlighting small business owners who have forged meaningful connections within the Enterprise Nation community, showcasing how these relationships have positively impacted their businesses.

Michael Crinnion and Dr Gracie McLaven

Michael Crinnion, product designer and founder of Mind Body Goals, and Dr Gracie McLaven, qualified clinical psychologist, appeared on a small business panel alongside Enterprise Nation founder, Emma Jones. They immediately connected over their shared passion for mental wellness and supporting people, albeit in different ways. 

They discussed their shared goals and realised they could help each other with a skills gap. Michael had just released the company’s first wellness journal and had ambitions to build out a bigger set; Gracie had ideas for a couple of journals living in her head but didn't have the means to bring them to market.  

They swapped numbers, got into a meeting the same week online and by the end of an hour, the ground had been laid for two more journals to complete the set. 

Gracie authored the two new journals, which Michael designed and published to create a set of small but powerful journals that each teach different skills for mental wellness.

“Michael’s skills have enabled me to share my knowledge and expertise of psychology more widely and in a more accessible way. I think our skill sets have complemented one another.” 

“Working with Gracie has been a pleasure, and I’ve learned so much from her during the process. One thing that has stood out is how openly sharing ideas and engaging with other people’s perspectives can produce such amazing results.” 

Jarmila Yu and Alexandra Lunn

Jarmila and Alexandra are both Enterprise Nation advisers who live by the motto “Love What You Do”.  

Doing what they love, they brought their energy and enthusiasm for marketing and business growth to Startup Show at the beginning of this year, hosting non-stop adviser sessions all day long for delegates at the event, where they met in-person for the first time. 

Both are expert marketers who know the value of marketing strategy, brand optimisation and integrated campaigns to build valuable brands and successful businesses.  

Since meeting, Jarmila and Alexandra are continuing discussions to see how their respective expertise and businesses can better support Enterprise Nation members looking to launch or grow their businesses. 

Love your business or want to fall back in love with your business this Valentine’s Day? Book to speak to Jarmila and Alexandra and show your business some love!

Louise Chandler and Lauriann Williams 

Lauriann Williams is the founder of Lauriann's STEM Club, a social enterprise which promotes STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects in schools. Lauriann contacted Enterprise Nation adviser and founder of Soundbite Media, Louise Chandler, to help her identify different channels of PR for marketing. 

Louise suggested that Lauriann research local news publications to identify potential media outlets for outreach. She also recommended STEM club develop a media kit using Canva, so all the key messages and achievements are presented easily. Louise shares: 

“I feel really proud to know my tips and ideas will make a difference to support others!” 

If you’re looking for tailored one-to-one support, find an adviser to match with. 

Emma Goode and Sally Day

Emma and Sally connected through an Enterprise Nation webinar. They have been working together and supporting each other's businesses for nearly four years. Sally emphasises the importance of friendship in the world of work, stating:

"Friendship is maybe the most important thing in the world of work!"

These stories highlight the power of connections in the small business world. Whether it's through direct messages, mutual friends, events or webinars, opportunities for collaboration and growth are abundant.

As a small business owner, don't hesitate to reach out, ask questions and build a network that can propel your business forward. Remember, genuine connections can lead to lasting partnerships and shared success.

Looking to make connections this Valentine's Day? We'd love for you to become a member of Enterprise Nation. Join for free today.