What Wenta does

Wenta is a UK social enterprise founded in 1983 (originally as Watford Enterprise Agency, rebranded to Wenta in 2007) that delivers free business support, advice, training, and workspace to start-ups and small businesses across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Enfield. It operates a hybrid model combining five physical business centres (Watford, Enfield, Potters Bar, and two Stevenage locations housing approximately 300 tenant businesses) with digital service delivery including live chat advice, the Wenta Online Community portal, and the OOHBot out-of-hours AI chatbot. Its core services span one-to-one business advisory appointments, CPD-certified training bootcamps and webinars (covering marketing, finance, digital, and AI skills), workspace and hot-desking rentals, virtual office packages, and grant administration. The free advisory proposition is funded through partnerships with local authorities, the Hertfordshire LEP, government programmes, and a network of 20+ partner organisations.

Wenta's commercial revenue is generated from three product lines: workspace rental across its five centres, tiered virtual office subscriptions (from £20+VAT/month for a registered address to £238+VAT/month for full virtual office with meeting room hours), and the Action Zero Net Zero subscription service launched in July 2022. Action Zero addresses the SME sustainability gap with tiered membership (Bronze free, Silver £8.49+VAT/month, Gold £9.99+VAT/month, Gold+ £11.99+VAT/month) providing carbon footprint assessment, e-learning modules, exclusive webinars, coaching, certification badges, and—through Action Zero Academy—CPD-certified carbon literacy training. Action Zero is also delivered under contract to multiple borough councils (Stevenage, Hertsmere, Welwyn Hatfield, Dacorum) and has engaged over 21,256 businesses since launch.

The business model operates on two layers: (1) a social-enterprise impact layer funded through council contracts, LEP partnerships, and grants that underwrites free advisory, training, and incubation services; and (2) a commercial layer capturing subscription revenue from workspace, virtual offices, and Net Zero services. Wenta holds 25 awards including a Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion (2015) and is governed by a board of Non-Executive Directors chaired by Louise Parkes (CEO of GOSH Charity), with Ed Jordan serving as CEO since 2017. The company has no disclosed parent, equity investors, or external funding rounds and is structurally self-sustaining through its hybrid revenue model.

Name

Wenta

Legal name

Wenta

Website

https://wenta.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wenta is a UK social enterprise founded in 1983 that provides free business advice, CPD-certified training, and affordable workspace to start-ups and small businesses across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Enfield through five business centres and digital channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Business Support Services (5614)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Help Supply Services (7363)

akta.pro primary industry

Adult Learner Support Services (Advising, Case Management, Wraparound Supports) (EDAAABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK)

Keywords

• Small business advice
• Business incubation services
• Flexible workspace rental
• Net zero consulting
• Virtual office services

Headquarters

HQ city

Watford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Business Workspace Rental: Flexible affordable workspace rental at 5 business centre locations including hot-desking, dedicated desks, offices, and industrial units. Revenue from tenant businesses across Watford, Enfield, Potters Bar, and Stevenage centres.
2. Virtual Office Services: Tiered virtual office packages from £20/month for registered office address to £238/month for full virtual office with call answering and meeting room usage
3. Action Zero Net Zero Subscriptions: Tiered subscription service for Net Zero support: Bronze (free), Silver (£8.49/mo + VAT), Gold (£9.99/mo + VAT), Gold+ (£11.99/mo + VAT)
4. Free Business Support Services: Social enterprise providing free business advice, training, and support funded through partnerships with local authorities, councils, and government programmes
5. Business Grants Administration: Administration of match-funded grants for Central Bedfordshire (up to £3,000) and partnership grant programmes with local councils

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Wenta is a social enterprise that provides free business advice, CPD-certified training, affordable workspace, and a tiered Net Zero service (Action Zero) to start-ups and small businesses across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Enfield. Its offering combines in-person advisory services at five business centres, online live chat advice, and revenue-generating workspace and virtual office rentals.

Product overview

Wenta is a social enterprise providing free business support services since 1983, operating across five business centres in Watford, Enfield, Potters Bar, and Stevenage. The core product portfolio includes Action Zero (subscription-based Net Zero/sustainability service with Bronze/Silver/Gold/Gold+ tiers ranging from free to £11.99/month+VAT), CPD-certified training and skills bootcamps, business advisory services, and flexible workspace rental. Supporting services include Virtual Office packages (from £20/month), Shared Workspace/hot-desking, The Business Bookshelf (free resources/templates), Business Grants access, and digital platforms (Mi Ventures live chat advice, Wenta Online Community portal, and OOHBot AI chatbot). The company has supported 91,187 businesses since inception, holds 25 awards, and operates approximately 300 tenant businesses across its centres.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Action Zero: A revolutionary affordable Net Zero service for small businesses to help them tackle climate change and achieve green accreditation.
• Mi Ventures
• My Incubator
• The Collaboration Stations
• The Business Bookshelf

Products and services

• Business Advice and Support Free one-to-one business advice appointments, triage assessments, and expert advisory services covering business planning, start-up, growth, survival, and finance. Provided by trained business advisors via phone, Zoom, or face-to-face for pre-starts, start-ups, and SMEs.
• Action Zero Net Zero Service Subscription-based Net Zero service with tiered membership (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Gold+), CPD-accredited green skills training, exclusive Carbon Footprint Tool, personalised emissions reduction reports, Net Zero plan support, and certification badges. Targeted at sustainability-focused SMEs.
• CPD-Certified Training and Skills Bootcamps Free professional development training covering marketing, finance, digital skills, AI, and business management, delivered via webinars, workshops, and skills bootcamps with CPD certification upon completion.
• Workspace Rental Flexible affordable office, studio, and storage space across five business centres in Watford, Enfield, Potters Bar, and Stevenage, available on monthly, weekly, or daily terms.
• Virtual Office Services Virtual office packages providing professional business addresses, mail handling, mail forwarding, call answering, and meeting room access across Watford, Potters Bar, Stevenage, and Enfield. Tiered packages from £20+VAT/month (Registered Office) to £220+VAT/month (Full Virtual).
• Shared Workspace and Hot-Desking Flexible co-working facilities and hot-desking options at Watford, Stevenage, Enfield, and Potters Bar centres, with Wi-Fi, on-site business advisor access, and networking opportunities.
• Business Grants Access Access to and administration of business grants, including Central Bedfordshire match-funded grants of up to £3,000 for new businesses, plus a live grants information page with up-to-date opportunities.
• Action Zero Academy Carbon Literacy training programme providing CPD-certified modules on climate change awareness, Net Zero concepts, and carbon reduction strategies for staff and clients of SMEs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91,187 businesses supported since 1983
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bedford Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver free business start-up support programmes for Bedford Borough residents and businesses
• Bedfordshire Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Bedfordshire Productivity and Growth Programme and JETS employability programme supporting self-employment
• CPD UKcoreTechnology or IntegrationCertification body for Wenta's CPD-certified training programmes and the Action Zero Academy
• East Herts CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal council partnership for business support services in East Hertfordshire area
• Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on events including Small Business Saturday, joint advocacy for small business community
• Global Entrepreneurship Week UKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual participation in GEW celebrations and entrepreneurship promotion activities
• Hertfordshire Growth HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint delivery of free business 'scale-up' support to Hertfordshire businesses through Get Enterprising programme
• Hertfordshire LEPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Enterprise Partnership collaboration supporting Industrial Strategy and enterprise support across Hertfordshire
• Hertsmere Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Action Zero Hertsmere Zero Gold Programme supporting SMEs to achieve Net Zero
• Luton Borough CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal council partnership for business support services in Luton area
• MentorsmeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral gateway providing access to mentors for Wenta clients seeking mentoring support
• STANTAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining and employment support partnership for business advisory services
• Stevenage Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncil partnership managing the Business & Technology Centre (btc) and Chells Industrial Units. Joint Action Zero programme supporting 100+ Stevenage businesses to Net Zero
• UK FinanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services industry partnership for business finance guidance
• University of BedfordshireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partnership for student entrepreneurship and business support
• Watford Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch Business Recovery & Growth Programme in Watford providing free business support, training, and workspace
• Watford Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on Thank You Events and wider Watford business community support activities
• North Herts CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuccessful partnership delivering business support programmes and student entrepreneurship initiatives
• Enterprise Research Centre (ERC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership to produce reports on SME Net Zero journey, ERC podcast collaboration featuring Wenta's Head of Net Zero
• Central Bedfordshire CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering Central Bedfordshire Start-Up Support Programme with match-funded grants up to £3,000
• Welwyn Hatfield Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Welwyn Hatfield Action Zero programme supporting local SMEs to achieve Net Zero
• Dacorum Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Dacorum Net Zero programme supporting local businesses sustainability journey
• Shaw TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting JETS programme participants who aspire to become self-employed

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wenta
• Xx.com/TheWentaGroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheWentaGroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wenta