A new direction for NFEA in the support and promotion of enterprise

New NFEA Chief Executive Dawn Whiteley joined the organisation in April this year and has hit the ground running since joining the team with a number of visits to key stakeholders and NFEA members around the country.  NFEA, the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies, has undertaken a full rebranding exercise and will now be known at The National Enterprise Network. This new name and associated rebranding comes after a period of significant change in the enterprise sector, which led NFEA to consider its position as the only remaining national enterprise support organisation

Dawn has been involved in enterprise support for almost 19 years – so certainly has first-hand experience of what enterprise support organisations do and the challenges they face, now more than ever.  Here she shares an overview of her time in post so far and some initial thoughts and plans for the future.

“ My first two months in the role of NFEA CEO have seen me out and about meeting lots of our members and sector partners, making sure that the messages about the importance of enterprise and support for those looking to start their own business continue to be heard.  It’s been really good to see some of the work that NFEA members are doing and to meet some of the businesses they have helped to start - help without which they say they wouldn’t be the successes that they are, or have the chance to become.  It’s a busy time also because of the changes around business support – the introduction of LEPs, the second round of the Regional Growth Fund going live and also Business Coaching for Growth – all of which provide possible opportunities for our members.

We all know the enterprise sector is undergoing change – with Business Link and RDA’s closing down and the disappearance of Enterprise UK and Prowess. The whole of the business support sector is facing significant challenges ….but NFEA and its network of members is still here – and going strong!  NFEA members have lived through the ups and downs of the economy and government policy for the last 30 years.  Whilst we need to move with the times in the way we deliver our services and in the range of services we offer, our focus on the enterprise sector is unchanged.  We need to continue to focus on the client, on our own sustainability and on preparing for the changes in policy which will surely come.

This has prompted some thinking about how NFEA positions itself in this new landscape, as the only national organisation remaining in the enterprise field.  So with this in mind, NFEA is relaunching itself as the National Enterprise Network, demonstrating our unique position as the only national enterprise organisation and enabling involvement from any organisation committed to supporting enterprise.

Also, I believe strongly in the power of the NFEA as a national network and the impact and strength we have in number - so growing and strengthening membership as the National Enterprise Network will be a focus of my personal attention over the coming months.  We are much better placed to lobby on the value of enterprise if we are speaking for a large community – we become a real force to be reckoned with.  We will be looking to open our membership up more widely in the coming months so get in touch if you want to join us on what is certainly sure to be an exciting journey! ”

Dawn Whiteley is the Chief Executive of NFEA - the national enterprise network.  NFEA members are drawn from a wide range of enterprise support organisations, providing independent and impartial advice, training and mentoring to new and emerging businesses.  www.nfea.com