Diana Pasek-Atkinson
Enterprise Advisor Manager at Nottingham Trent University

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That headline refers to Community of course, but I hope that I’ve got your attention, for a little while at least? I know you’re busy, but we all need a space for a bit of reflection in our roles!

I want to give you my take, after just over ten years of working in this field, on what makes the #ented community so special. Then ask if you agree or have anything to add?

People are the power of any community, and the field of enterprise education is made up of amazing people doing incredible things. It brings together academics, educators, practitioners, researchers and ecosystem partners, but this community isn’t defined by institution, job title or discipline, it’s defined by the way it behaves.

My introduction to the #ented community, from the very start (back in 2017, at my first International Enterprise Educators Conference in Glasgow) was like a warm embrace as I was made so welcome by veterans and newbies alike and I remember the support, sharing and inspiration from all sides. I felt this as the kind of inclusive network I was going to enjoy being a part of even then!

I am proposing my 5 Cs of enterprise education; community; connection, collaboration, curiosity and candour. Continuing with my C word theme…

Community

The #EntEd community at its strongest feels less like a professional network and more like a group of people who genuinely want each other to succeed. Whether you’re new to it all or you’ve been around for years, there’s usually someone willing to share ideas, answer questions and offer encouragement.

Connection

Many of the opportunities, collaborations and friendships in enterprise education start with a conversation. The connections we make through EEUK events and special interest groups and IEEC have helped me and my colleagues to arrange study visits, hop on calls to discuss issues and successes and remind us that we’re part of something bigger than our own organisation’s world.

Collaboration

Enterprise educators are generally quick to work out ways to work together, help each other, improve on what’s already there. From sharing resources (thank you for the expertise, intelligence, frameworks and contacts that have been so generously shared with me over the years!) and co-hosting events (memorable amongst them two around freelancing) to tackling sector-wide challenges (how I love those folks who’ve shared approaches to data collection and reporting).

Curiosity

The community is filled with people who are interested in new ideas and open to learning from others. We visit each other’s set ups, participate in pilot sessions outside our comfort zones (Prototyping with AI a recent one for me!) and ask questions not because we have all the answers, but because we’re always looking for better ways to support the people for whom we want to make a difference through enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Candour

Perhaps the most valuable quality of all is candour. Enterprise educators are refreshingly honest about what has worked, what hasn’t and what they’re still trying to work out. That willingness to share challenges as well as successes creates a trust that helps us all to learn and adapt, pivot and change and navigate the necessary political sensitivity in some spheres in increasingly challenging times.

Community, connection, collaboration, curiosity and candour. Together they capture what makes the #EntEd community. It’s the kind of space I strive to create elsewhere, it’s inclusive, people learn from and with each other, they support each other and no one is afraid to have honest conversations along the way.

What’s key to this community for you? What’s missing? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

The biggest concentration of the gorgeous people involved in #ented is the annual conference. This year hosted at Nottingham Trent University #IEEC 2026. If you have your ticket I’ll see you there, please say Hello! If not, there are still some available if you’re quick!