Our History

History

1983	Watford Enterprise Agency founded by a group of local businessmen. The purpose of the Agency was to provide advice and support to Watford residents wishing to start their own small enterprises. At this time the Agency served clients who were unable to find work locally or who had been made redundant following the closure of the town’s major manufacturing industries which were at that time the area’s principal employers. In the early years Wenta saw 4-5 clients per month, less than 50 clients per year.
1984	Premises found on Colne Way, Watford. Disused factory site converted into offices and workshops providing affordable accommodation to small businesses and providing valuable funding for the Enterprise Agency’s business advisory service.
1986	HRH formally opens The Wenta Business Centre.
1989	Hertsmere Borough Council approaches Wenta to build an Enterprise Centre in Potters Bar.
1991	Graham Gooch formally opens The Enterprise Centre.
1995	Ken Hards stands down as Chief Executive. Chris Pichon is appointed new Chief Executive.
1996	Now seeing 200 clients a year with three part-time advisors.
1999	Wenta introduce schools programme.
2002	650 new clients seen and 1120 advisory sessions with seven part-time advisors.
2003	Wenta expands Advisory Service into the Dacorum Borough. Two new advisory service offices opened in Hemel Hempstead and Borehamwood. Watford Enterprise Agency is renamed Wenta Business Services.
2004	New building on the Watford site opens giving Wenta 15 more offices.
2006	Chris Green appointed Chairman. Record numbers of clients visiting the Agency - over 1200 new clients advised and almost 2600 advisory sessions carried out by 11 part-time and 4 full-time advisors. Wenta’s education programmes extended to offer range of support to local schools, further education colleges and the University of Hertfordshire. Wenta awarded Job Centre Plus New Deal contract for 5 Job Centres in Hertfordshire.
2007	Wenta Business Services is rebranded as Wenta. Wenta expands into Bedfordshire opening two new advisory locations in Bedford and Luton. Wenta launch virtual office services. Wenta awarded Job Centre Plus New Deal contract for a further 4 Job Centres in Bedfordshire. Wenta awarded National Award for Education Links at the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies first ever Enterprise Awards ceremony.
2008	Wenta celebrates its 25th Anniversary. Wenta will have advised over 13,000 clients in the last 25 years. Over 5000 students will have been through our education and training programmes. Over 1000 businesses will have been accommodated by one of Wenta’s managed workspace centres.