When I started building the ENL Collective, I knew it would take time. What I perhaps didn’t fully realise was just how much joy, inspiration, learning and genuine connection would come from sitting down with every single founding member and really getting to know them properly. It has honestly been one of the most rewarding things I have done in years.
Over the past few months, Millie Craig and I have spent time speaking with almost all of our founding members not rushed onboarding calls or automated welcome emails, but proper conversations about their businesses, their ambitions, the reality of building something from nothing, what they sell, who they serve, what is working brilliantly, what feels overwhelming, what keeps them awake at night, and most importantly, why they started in the first place.
And what has become incredibly clear to me is this — behind every small business is a person carrying an enormous amount of responsibility, passion and determination.
Everything I do through Eat Nourish Love, the ENL Collective and Cary Consultancy always comes back to the same thing: people, relationships, trust and communication. Whether I’m working on a £4.5 million fundraising campaign, coordinating a Royal visit, producing a charity dinner, creating wellness events, building partnerships or supporting founders and small businesses, the heart of the work is always understanding people properly and being genuinely committed to helping them move forward.
You cannot truly help a business grow unless you understand the person behind it. What drives them. What they are brilliant at. Where they need encouragement. Where they need support, visibility, confidence, strategy or simply somebody to listen. That takes time, and it takes real commitment.
The reality is that running a small business can be incredibly lonely, and I don’t think we talk about that enough.
There are millions of small businesses across the UK, and the vast majority are people doing almost everything themselves. Wearing every hat imaginable. Doing invoices late at night. Replying to customer emails whilst juggling family life. Trying to understand social media, marketing, AI, content creation, websites, finances, logistics and business growth all at the same time.
So many founders, wellness brands and creative entrepreneurs are carrying huge pressure quietly.
What has been so wonderful to see through the ENL Collective is how quickly people connect when they realise they are surrounded by others who genuinely understand those pressures.
And the group itself has become the most eclectic, inspiring and supportive mix of people. We have wellness brands, skincare founders, nutritionists, fashion designers, food brands, supplement companies, content creators, coaches, experts, retailers and entrepreneurs all together in one space. Different ages, different stages, different industries but all connected by a genuine willingness to support one another and share experiences honestly.
The conversations happening inside the Collective have been incredible to witness.
Someone needs help with packaging or fulfilment and recommendations appear within minutes. Someone launches a podcast and the group rallies around to support it. Someone is struggling with confidence or visibility and another founder openly shares what they have learned through their own experiences. There is no ego and no feeling that people have to hold everything close to their chest. There is simply a willingness to help.
That is something we are deeply committed to building and protecting as the Collective grows.
Getting to know these businesses properly, and understanding the incredible people behind them, has been one of the greatest privileges. It has also reinforced for me how important community, collaboration and support really are when you are building a small business or wellness brand.
The ENL Collective was never created simply as another networking group or membership. It was created to bring people together in a meaningful way. To create opportunities. To open doors. To support small businesses, founders, wellness brands and creative entrepreneurs through connection, collaboration, visibility, events, content, podcasts, learning and community.
We are incredibly committed to building something that genuinely helps people, not just commercially, but personally too. A place where people feel supported, encouraged, inspired and understood whilst growing their businesses.
Because the truth is, people do better when they feel connected to the right people around them.
If you are reading this whilst trying to build a business on your own and quietly thinking “yes… this is exactly how it feels,” I would gently say this — you do not have to do it alone. The right community can change everything.
And to our founding members thank you. Thank you for your honesty, your support of one another, your encouragement, your energy and your belief in what we are building together. We are enormously grateful for every single one of you and incredibly committed to continuing to grow something very special together.
To find out more about the ENL Collective, our wellness events, founder community, podcasts and support for small businesses and creative entrepreneurs, visit Eat Nourish Love