Hey! Here’s what’s happening in the Enterprise Nation community this week
We’re gearing up for the Festival of Entrepreneurs at the NEC, and we’d love for you to join us. Plus, our Sustainability Challenge has a winner, and our local meet-ups are coming to you in person, starting in Bristol on 29 October.
What the community are saying 🗣️
Is a second EU referendum on the cards? Can a “Jollof Social” win long-term catering clients? And is it just Jaxx, or has October kicked things into gear? Here’s what’s been on your mind lately...
💬 “Whether we do or don't, in or out, it's the uncertainty and reality of the mess with legislation that is the problem for businesses.” Catriona
💬 “Love this idea, and yes, it can work. The catch is that most supper clubs fill the room with people who love the food but never have a need for catering. So, I’d design it backwards from who signs off the order...” Sophie
💬 “I've heard from SME friends that they're getting more leads through and everything just feels...better?” Jaxx
Member spotlight: Harsha Harjani 🏆
Congratulations to Harsha Harjani, winner of our community Sustainability Challenge!
We asked members to reflect on what sustainability means to them, with entries judged anonymously by Jill Poet, Enterprise Nation adviser and CEO of the Organisation for Responsible Businesses.
Here’s Harsha’s winning answer:
“Sustainability to me means being able to survive and thrive well into the future. So for businesses, it’s about long term resilience. For people, it’s about a lifestyle that can thrive long term. If applied to products, it’s about those that are much more long-lasting than the average ones.”
Fittingly, Harsha runs her own sustainability communications consultancy, Caine Strategies.
Harsha Harjani
Upcoming Events Timetable 🎟️
Tuesday 13 October I Your first hire: getting it right when you can't afford to get it wrong
Tuesday 13 October I Wales online meet-up
Wednesday 14 October I The LinkedIn Roast: Brutally honest profile fixes that attract clients
Thursday 15 October I AI is already changing your business. Are you ready?
Friday 16 October I How to manage your business in a rapidly changing world
Monday 20 October I Surrey, Hampshire & Berkshire online meet-up
Monday 20 October I Food & Drink Founders Table
Monday 26 October I The Retail Roundtable
Thursday 29 October I Bristol in-person meet-up
Thursday 29 October I Female Founder Sessions
Thursday 29 October I Next Gen Entrepreneurs: The Hangout
Wednesday 4 November I Kent online meet-up
Wednesday 11 November I Lincolnshire online meet-up
Thursday 12 November I North West in-person meet-up
Meet us at Festival of Entrepreneurs 👋
Team Enterprise Nation will be heading to the Festival of Entrepreneurs 3-4th November - will you be there?
Head over to our stand to say hello, or join the member meet-up on 4th November at 12:15 in Connection Hub 1.
The Beauty & Wellness Exchange is back! 💄
The Beauty and Wellness Exchange is back, bringing together successful founders and industry experts for a practical day focused on navigating the retail journey!
You’ll discover:
🛍️ What retailers look for in new brands
📈 How to prepare your business for retail and scale production
💬 How to create a strong retail pitch
🤖 How to use Gemini to build your pitch deck
🤝 How to turn your first retail order into a lasting relationship
📅 9th November | London
Member Opportunity 📢
Small businesses make up 99.9% of UK private companies - yet only 38% survive 5 years.
New UK-wide research is exploring the link between founders' personal lives and their businesses' long-term success - and the early signs suggest it matters more than most people realise.
10 minutes of your time gets you:
✅ A voice in shaping future support for small business owners
✅ First access to the findings
✅ A clearer read on where you really stand vs. other founders
✅ Opportunity to be featured in national press
Grant opportunity for 18-24 year old entrepreneurs! 🚀
The Enterprise Nation Next Generation Grant is giving one aspiring young entrepreneur aged 18–24 the chance to turn their business dream into a reality!
🏆 One lucky winner will receive:
💰 A £1,500 grant to help start their business
📣 6 hours of mentoring with an experienced entrepreneur
Simply fill in the short application form below and tell us why your business deserves the boost, or share with someone who you think could benefit! Grant closes today at 23:59.
Win a $200,000 start-up fund in 30 seconds
Have a brilliant product you want to take to the world? The Alibaba.com CoCreate Pitch is coming to Europe and it’s your chance to get in front of one of the world’s biggest e-commerce platforms and win a $200,000 start-up fund in 30 seconds.
That’s all for today 👋
We’ll be back on Wednesday with The Founder newsletter. If you want to feature in an upcoming Community Catch-up, reply to this email.