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- by @inc
- 09-01-2025
MENTA CEO Alex Till is backing a call for the government to listen to a growing movement which has seen the UK’s key business support providers petition for a single initial point of contact to support businesses. Alex, who is also chair of the National Enterprise Network – the country’s leading provider of community-based business support for micros and start-ups – is supporting a campaign by NEN, working alongside the Economic and Social Research Council (ERC) as well as the Federation of Small Business (FSB) to improve the business support ecosystem for micro and small businesses. Their appeal is supported by the latest research announced by the Economic and Social Research Council (ERC) on behalf of the Federation of Small Business (FSB) which calls for an organisation to be set up to provide a consistent single point of contact to make it simpler for businesses to get the help they need to start, grow and thrive. The report by the ERC, which is the UK’s leading centre of excellence for research into the growth, innovation and productivity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) reveals that entrepreneurs often say that they do not know where to go for good advice thanks to the ‘merry go round’ of changes from Business Link, Growth Accelerator, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and Growth Hubs. And it recommends that the government focuses on creating the new service by building on existing services around small business and entrepreneurship support. Alex Till said: “The concept of a national service with local delivery at its core has been discussed for a while and is crucial for UK small and micro businesses who struggle to navigate the complex web of government policies, funding options, and compliance requirements. “For decades, MENTA and our fellow enterprise agencies across the country have played a pivotal role within communities, supporting successive generations of entrepreneurs and micro-businesses to get the right advice at the right time and relevant to them. This approach aligns perfectly with what we have championed: accessible, trusted, and effective support embedded at a local level. “A single point of guidance reduces confusion by providing consistent, reliable advice, avoids contradictory advice from multiple sources and means our small and micro business leaders spend less time searching for answers and more time focusing on growing their businesses.” NEN, the FSB and ERC have all welcomed the government’s recent first step in this direction, with the announcement of its new Business Growth Service (BGS) due to launch in 2025 which it promises will simplify and streamline business support through a locally delivered, UK-wide system.
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A decade of supporting the UK’s micro-business community
- by @inc
- 16-12-2024
MENTA’s Chief Executive, Alex Till, celebrated a decade of collaboration, innovation and commitment to supporting the UK’s micro-business community as he was re-elected as chairman of the National Enterprise Network (NEN), the organisation which represents the country’s enterprise agencies, Speaking at NEN’s AGM, Alex looked back on his 10 years with NEN, including four years as a board director and six as chairman, and reflected on its vital role in fostering the growth and resilience of new, emerging, and existing micro-businesses across the UK. During Alex’s term at NEN, the organisation secured pan-European projects funded by the EU programme Erasmus+ to support education, training, youth, refugees and entrepreneurship, developed collaborative relationships in Sweden, Amsterdam, Germany, Ireland, and Northern Ireland, and is currently working to secure a company formation in Germany to foster innovation, share best practices, and create future growth and income generation avenues on an international scale. Alex said: “It has been an honour and privilege to represent this extraordinary network. To stand alongside so many passionate individuals and agencies committed to nurturing enterprise is deeply rewarding. The NEN is more than just an organization; it is a movement—a dynamic force for change and growth in the micro-business sector.” “At the heart of NEN’s success is the unwavering dedication of our members. They are the driving force behind the support offered to businesses at the grassroots level, delivering tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of each community.” NEN’s AGM was held on the same day as its Annual Conference, which took place in Birmingham and which brought together government, industry and international partners to focus on supporting the UK’s micro and small business sector to thrive. You can find out more about the conference here.
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MENTA’s enterprise and innovation wins national awards
- by @inc
- 04-12-2024
MENTA proudly took centre stage at the 2024 National Enterprise Network (NEN) Awards, receiving recognition of its outstanding support for micro and small businesses in its communities and its innovative approach. Since their inception in 2007, the NEN Awards have recognised innovation, excellence, and the profound impact of enterprise support organisations on both local and national economies. This year, MENTA’s efforts were acknowledged in two standout categories: Winner – Enterprising Spaces Award MENTA’s coworking spaces were celebrated for their exceptional integration of free business support, mentoring, and workshops. By fostering inclusivity and collaboration, MENTA has helped revitalise local economies and champion diverse business communities. Highly Commended – Innovation in Enterprise Award sponsored by City of London MENTA was also recognised for its dynamic and forward-thinking initiatives, including @inc Suffolk, Digital Springboard, and DEEP. These programmes deliver impactful, future-ready support to micro and small businesses, helping them thrive in a rapidly changing landscape. Alex Till, CEO of MENTA, commented: “Being recognised at the NEN Awards is a testament to the dedication of our team and the innovative programmes we deliver to support businesses across the region. These accolades affirm our commitment to creating spaces and opportunities that empower entrepreneurs, drive growth, and build resilient communities.” The NEN Awards continue to highlight the power of collaboration, innovation, and enterprise in shaping the future of local economies. MENTA’s success this year reinforces its position as a leader in enterprise support, making a meaningful impact across the communities it serves. The Awards Ceremony took place in Birmingham on 26 November, celebrating alongside peers from across the enterprise support sector. Held following the annual NEN Conference, the awards underscored the crucial role of enterprise support organisations in fostering vibrant economies, empowering entrepreneurs, and uplifting local communities.
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MENTA shortlisted for National Accolade
- by @inc
- 18-11-2024
MENTA has been shortlisted for three of the top enterprise support awards in the country. It is in the final line-up for some of the key awards due to be announced at the National Enterprise Network’s Annual Conference on November 21st. The awards are: • Enterprise Support Organisation of the Year• Innovation in Enterprise• Enterprising spaces The awards board reviewing the entries were impressed by MENTA’s innovative approach across the board to opening up opportunities for micro, small and start-up businesses; its vibrant @inc co-working spaces which have boosted their local communities; its collaborative working ethos and its strong track record of delivering on-the-ground business support focused on needs and free at the point of delivery. Carol Daniels, NEN operations director, announced the shortlist, saying: “Every organisation featured on the shortlist has clearly demonstrated excellence in the delivery of enterprise support, whether in the community, through enterprising spaces, or in educational settings focused on embedding entrepreneurial spirit and enterprise. “This year’s entries also showcased the value of enterprising partnerships, highlighting how collaboration strengthens enterprise ecosystems. Selecting a shortlist is never an easy task, but these entries provided a fantastic insight into the impactful initiatives and the dedicated professionals working tirelessly across the UK, especially during these challenging times.” MENTA’s forward-thinking enterprise model, which combines physical spaces for businesses in their communities, underpinned by a comprehensive business support model which offers free advice, guidance, and mentoring to all, has created a complete collaborative ecosystem for the region’s start-up, micro and small businesses helping them to thrive in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Over the past year it has introduced a range of new courses including key programmes such as Digital Springboard and the DEEP (Digital Enterprise Engagement Programme) to drive digital transformation within micro businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk. And in the digital age, MENTA has itself embraced app-based technology to streamline its services, offering greater flexibility and efficiency for users. These digital tools enable business owners to engage with MENTA’s services remotely, on their own terms, and outside the traditional 9-to-5 business mode. MENTA CEO Alex Till said he was delighted that the social enterprise had been shortlisted for so many awards and praised his team for their work in driving change and supporting the region’s thriving business communities. “I believe MENTA’s ability to remain adaptable and forward-thinking over four decades sets it apart. Unlike many established organisations that become set in their ways, MENTA has sustained a “startup” mentality, constantly seeking new opportunities and staying agile. This mindset has allowed MENTA to evolve in sync with the business environment, embracing new technologies, market trends, and community needs. This is particularly reflected in its expansion of services and its ability to pivot towards digital and app-based solutions to better serve micro businesses.”
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Small business crisis in Suffolk
- by @inc
- 08-11-2024
LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS DEMAND URGENT SUPPORT AMID RISING COSTS AND SHRINKING RESOURCES Small businesses across Suffolk are calling on the government to honour its pre-election commitment to support the sector, as new challenges from wage increases, export difficulties, and reduced support funding threaten their growth and survival. MENTA, Suffolk’s leading enterprise support organisation for start-ups, small, and micro-businesses, highlights these challenges through the latest findings from the National Enterprise Network (NEN) 2024 Business Barometer. This report, based on one of the UK’s most extensive surveys of new and early-stage businesses, shows a significant decline in business confidence. Many entrepreneurs expect to raise prices and reduce staffing as they battle high operating costs. Key findings reveal: - 90% of small and micro-businesses anticipate raising prices, with 80% forecasting increases above inflation and many planning hikes of 6-10%. - Over half of businesses saw increased turnover in the past year, but escalating costs have eroded profit margins, preventing further investment in new jobs. - Rising wages are a key concern for 73% of businesses, and a third worry they may need to reduce staff. MENTA CEO Alex Till, who is also Chair of NEN, emphasised the need for targeted support policies for small businesses, saying: “In Suffolk, small businesses form the lifeblood of our local economy, creating jobs and sustaining communities. Yet, rising costs and shrinking support have placed an immense strain on them. Businesses here in Suffolk need policies that will help them access the skills, training, and funding they need—when they need it—to weather these economic storms and drive local growth.” The Barometer, conducted by NEN in collaboration with Enterprise Northern Ireland, gathered insights from over 1,000 entrepreneurs, owners, and managers of small businesses across various sectors. The survey shows a 10% decrease in businesses anticipating growth this year and nearly 20% struggling or contracting. Despite turnover gains, 60% report stagnant or declining profits due to cost pressures on wages, materials, property, and fuel. In response to these challenges, 80% of businesses are now focused on growth within the UK, a significant shift as only 14% target the EU market—a notable drop since last year’s 33%. Local Suffolk businesses have increasingly turned to enterprise agencies like MENTA for guidance, with 40% reaching out in the past year. The survey shows that 48% prefer face-to-face support, and 35% rank networking and collaboration highly, underscoring the importance of locally delivered enterprise support and affordable co-working spaces such as those provided by MENTA’s @ inc Suffolk. MENTA continues to deliver critical face-to-face and online support, training, and access to flexible co-working options for Suffolk’s entrepreneurs, all geared toward fostering sustainable growth. As the government prepares for the incoming budget, MENTA calls for renewed investment in grassroots support to help Suffolk’s small businesses weather this storm and secure a path to recovery.
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Is Budget all pain and no gain?
- by @inc
- 31-10-2024
Is Rachel Reeves’ first budget ‘all pain and no gain’ for our micro and small businesses? – MENTA Chief Executive Alex Till comments. Following a ‘painful’ budget for business which comes on the back of Labour’s ‘Making Work Pay’ New Deal, Alex Till, Chief Executive Director of MENTA, has called on the government to remember its pledge to back the country’s 5.6 million, micro and small businesses as a key part of its ‘pro growth’ agenda. Alex, who is also chair of the National Enterprise Network (NEN), the country’s leading representative of business support for micro, small and start-up businesses, said he was concerned the increased costs could cripple small businesses, turning the positive focus on growth to negative pressures which could ultimately force small business owners out of the market. Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ long-anticipated Autumn budget on Wednesday unveiled a raft of new measures to achieve the £40m tax hike she said the country needed – with more than half the taxes being raised from employers. The measures include a significant increase in National Insurance Contributions (NICS) for employers from 13.8% to 15%, which follows a pre-budget announcement of increases in the minimum wage of 6% together with jumps in wages for younger staff and apprentices. Alex said: “We must remember our micro and small businesses owners aren’t making huge profits like many corporates and they can’t just absorb these costs – they are the faces in our local communities who are providing much-needed local jobs and local investment. “Combined with the incoming legislation in the Making Work Pay deal which will increase employment admin and costs yet further, restrictions on investments and reductions in some business support funding, it feels like yet another burden on the small businesses who form the backbone of our country’s economy and will undoubtedly put many companies at risk.” “The big issue for me is that the government needs to focus on what really needs to be done to make work pay across the board – both for employees and the businesses themselves. With all the increases in costs on the micro and small business owners, many of them may just decide they cannot make the new business landscape work for them and we will see more closures and fewer of the innovative, entrepreneurial ground-up businesses we need to provide real jobs and grow the economy. “The government’s focus should be on what can be done to uplift these businesses – a very small % shift in growth across the 5.6million micro businesses in our communities would increase the country’s productivity and wealth significantly.” The UK’s MSME (micro, small and medium-sized enterprises) is one of the country’s largest sectors, accounting for 50% of the country’s GDP, 50% of its growth and 75% of its innovation as well as 33% of overall employment – the equivalent of nine million employees. The budget announcements follow recent research by the National Enterprise Network which revealed that over 75% of small and micro businesses were already concerned that increases in the cost of energy, goods and services and staff wages were making their operations unsustainable. That message was underlined by recent figures from the Department for Business and Trade which revealed a 56,000 drop in the number of small businesses in the UK between early 2023 and early 2024, including a 0.5 per cent fall in the number of people employed in small businesses. And although there was some good news for small business owners – an uplift in the amount they can claim back off their National Insurance bill – there was also disappointment that the current 75% relief on business rates, which are charged on most non-domestic properties such as shops, offices, pubs and factories and was due to expire in April, would be replaced by a 40% discount for retail, hospitality and leisure companies next year.
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MENTA celebrates 40 years at the launch of West Suffolk Business Festival
- by @inc
- 16-10-2024
The West Suffolk Business Festival officially launched on Monday 30 September at the cutting-edge XR LABS, located at West Suffolk College. The West Suffolk Business Festival officially launched on Monday 30 September at the cutting-edge XR LABS, located at West Suffolk College. MENTA, which has been a cornerstone of business support in Suffolk for the past four decades, used the occasion to reflect on its considerable achievements. Over the last 40 years, MENTA has supported over 55,000 startup businesses, created over 100,000 jobs, and delivered workshops on skills, enterprise, and employability to more than 125,000 individuals. Additionally, MENTA has invested approximately £4 million in the economic growth of Suffolk through funding, property development, and skills training. These statistics were highlighted by MENTA CEO, Alex Till, during the event. The Business Festival Launch was a celebration of innovation, bringing together business leaders, entrepreneurs, and representatives from a variety of sectors. Attendees participated in engaging sessions and workshops on Finance and Investment, Gaming in Business, AI, and more. MENTA would like to thank those who participated in the event, and those who joined us to celebrate its 40th anniversary. MENTA and @inc, its co-working office space initiative, sponsored some of the awards. MENTA – Best New Start-up - MENTA – Best New Start-up - Anglia CPR – Highly commended - Isaac estates sales and lettings - Bellissima Voi Aesthetics @inc – Freelancer of the Year Finalists - A girls Best Friend – Winner - Calatech – Highly commended - Aerial Angels - Grey space tattoo studio
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MENTA officially launches @inc Southwold
- by @inc
- 14-10-2024
MENTA’s newest @inc co-working space – Southwold – was officially launched last month with a host of VIPs, including Suffolk Coastal MP Jenny Riddell-Carpenter and Southwold Town Council Mayor Simon Flunder. More than 50 dignitaries and business owners mixed at the event, which celebrated the opening of East Suffolk’s premier coworking space. @Inc is conveniently situated at The Hub in Blyth Rd, Southwold and is designed as a vibrant workspace which encourages freelancers, sole traders and entrepreneurs to collaborate and innovate while enjoying the benefits of private meeting rooms and open coworking spaces as well as a communal kitchen and even a zoom room – all complimented by MENTA’s first-rate business support service. The launch event was also attended by representatives from Southwold Town Council, including Lesley Bevor and Paula Paula Goldsmith, as well as Morag McInnes, Marie-Webster Fitch, and Joanne Chapman from East Suffolk Council. They were joined by members of the planning, legal, architectural and construction teams who had supported the development of @inc Southwold, including Mixbrow, Allman Woodcock, Norr Architects, Uttings, Mills and Reeve, and Hach Property. After the formal launch the centre was opened the site to the public for tours and one of MENTA’s business advisors Will Herschel-Shorland was on site to offer business support advice to any visitors.
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Savings on insurance as MENTA partners with blip
- by @inc
- 03-10-2024
MENTA has announced a partnership with blip, specialist small business insurance provider, to enable local businesses benefit from access to affordable small business insurance, a growth-focused business community and a share of blip profits. MENTA has selected blip as its preferred business insurance provider for all startups who receive support from MENTA. The partnership will allow MENTA businesses the opportunity to access affordable small business insurance, a growth-focussed business community and a share of blip profits. Find out more about blip’s offer for MENTA here: blip offers small business insurance policies that are on average 1/3 cheaper than the lowest price on price comparison websites. blip is putting its money where its mouth is, also offering a best price match guarantee and annual profit-share model for all members as part of its triple-lock guarantee. blip is not on price comparison websites, instead engaging directly with customers to offer the best price. MENTA has supported UK business for over 40 years and is today considered by many the trusted and cost-effective go-to provider for business advice, quality training and reliable coaching. Choosing blip as the preferred insurance provider for its small business network demonstrates the value and trust MENTA has in blip’s specialist small business insurance. Alex Till, Chief Executive of MENTA, says “We are delighted to join forces with blip to enhance the support we provide to start-up, micro and small businesses. At MENTA, we are always looking for ways to help entrepreneurs thrive, and this partnership enables us to enhance our offer even further to the many micro and small businesses who lie at the heart of our local communities.” Gary Ross, CEO & Founder of blip, says “We are thrilled to partner with MENTA, whose dedication to small business support and growth resonates deeply with our values at blip. We want to help small business owners succeed and welcome the addition of MENTA’s incredible network. Each one of our members becomes an integral part of the blip community, fostering an environment where knowledge and expertise can grow among like-minded entrepreneurs.” ”At blip we know the most important thing for small business owners when it comes to their insurance is price. We have streamlined our platform to remove unnecessary and costly stages of the insurance value chain allowing us to offer the most competitive price on the market. We’re on average up to a third cheaper than the best price out there and on the rare occasion we’re not we’ll match that price!” By partnering with blip, businesses in the MENTA network can navigate the complexities of small business insurance with ease, protecting their business and their livelihood with an insurance provider passionate about protecting small businesses and supporting business owners at an unbeatable price. blip and MENTA believe that small businesses are the beating heart of the UK economy and deserve premium support at an affordable price point. blip is returning to the first principles of insurance where the premiums of the many pay for the claims of the few and by cutting out price-inflating middlemen, blip is pioneering its new triple-lock guarantee for small businesses. Partnering with MENTA allows blip to offer its market-leading small business insurance to a network of startups passionate about business growth and development. You can benefit from the new partnership here
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West Suffolk Business Festival 2024
- by @inc
- 24-09-2024
West Suffolk Business Festival Launch A Celebration of Innovation and Collaboration On Monday 30 September, the West Suffolk Business Festival will be officially launched at the XR LABS, West Suffolk College, in a vibrant event organised by MENTA in association with Connected Innovation and West Suffolk College. The launch of the festival also marks MENTA’s 40th anniversary. Over the past four decades, MENTA have shown unwavering dedication to fostering business growth and development for businesses in Suffolk by providing essential support services, mentorship, and networking opportunities that have enabled countless enterprises to thrive. This event is no exception. You can book here. Exhibitor: Book Here Attendee: Book Here
