ICAEW and Enterprise Nation are building the UK’s first data-led business platform to help developing businesses grow and access the expertise they need to fully realise their potential.
The new one million pound platform will launch in the new year with the aim of connecting UK SMEs with reputable, reviewed and credible sources of expertise. Recent research has found that a lack of approachable and effective help is one of the most significant barriers to growth for UK small businesses.
Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones says: “Something has got to change if small firms are going to get the best help to grow.”
“Over the last 12 months, we’ve heard loud and clear that the two key reasons founders don’t take advice is because they don’t know who to trust – and crucially how much they’ll be expected to pay. It shouldn’t be that difficult.”
“We’re addressing these key barriers and building a platform that will enable advisers to demonstrate their experience, whilst allowing entrepreneurs to quickly find an adviser who, whether that be geographic proximity or sector skills, can offer bite-size or longer-term guidance. The more we can close the advice gap in Britain, the greater rewards we’ll see across the small business base.”
The focus of the new platform will be on usability and functionality whereby SMEs can use data to match their needs with one of the experts on the new platform.
Enterprise Nation has a track record of successfully providing help and expertise to UK small businesses and this sounds like an interesting new project. And the partnership with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales sounds like an interesting match. We’ll keep you posted when the launch is imminent.
