As the clocks turn back and we get a much-needed extra hour to fit in all the jobs that come hand in hand with a busy work schedule, why not take a break to delve into all the latest and greatest Member news!
This edition is packed with great content from our Members sharing their accomplishments and expertise to our business community. Before you dive into our array of Member articles, let’s take a look at what the Chambers team have been up to this month.
ECC Take to the Skies to Fundraise for Mid & North East Essex Mind
Our CEO, Denise Rossiter, will be taking to the skies and braving a skydive to raise money for our nominated charity Mid & North Essex Mind.
She will be accompanied by our Operations Director, Lisa Collins, on Thursday 15th May as the pair take the plunge to show the Chambers unwavering commitment to our chosen charity of the year.
Weather permitting, the skydive will be taking place during World Mental Health week. Our aim is to raise funds to support the vital work that Mid & North East Essex Mind do for the county but also to spread awareness and open conversations throughout our community on the importance of good mental health in the workplace.
Good luck Denise & Lisa, you have the whole Chambers team behind you. We hope you’ll have the whole Essex business community behind you to.
To donate please visit our dedicated JustGiving page.
Discovering Opportunities with Freeport East
Earlier this month we were delighted to welcome guests to the peaceful surroundings of Lifehouse Spa & Hotel in Thorpe-le-Soken for our Freeport East Innovation Cluster Business Networking event.
Sponsored by Tungsten Developments Ltd, this popular lunchtime event was a fantastic opportunity for our attendees to hear directly from Freeport East and their associates on the exciting upcoming developments in the region.
Gathered guests heard from Steven Wilson, Head of Innovation, Business Engagement & Inward Investment at Freeport East as he explained the freeports role to develop and support innovation. Offering unique investment opportunities, a major trading gateway, and Green Energy Hub, there are so many exciting opportunities for businesses looking to expand and flourish in the north of Essex.
We were also joined by Luke Davenport, Associate Development Director, from event sponsors, Tungsten Developments Ltd, Mike Wilson, Associate Director, at Savills, and Dan Harness, Director at Harwin Property Consultants. They talked to attendees about the progress and prospects on the Centurion Park development at Horsley Cross as it nears completion at the end of 2024.
Allison Mitchell, Innovation & Growth Specialist at Innovate UK ended the speaker session before guests enjoyed a delicious lunch and networking. Allison discussed the various support and initiatives that Innovate UK offer to businesses looking to transform ambitious ideas into real-world solutions.
At the Chambers we are dedicated to bringing together the Essex business community with organisations that promote innovation and opportunity in our region.
Conflict Management with Essex Police
During Safer Business Action Week, we were delighted to collaborate with the Business Crime Team at Essex Police on a Conflict Management Workshop. Expertly facilitated by Michael Lee, BCT Police Constable, and Christian Denning, BCT Sergeant, the session explored effective ways to resolve conflict in the workplace.
We were joined at our Colchester base at the Innovation Centre, Knowledge Gateway, by attendees from a wide range of businesses, interested to hear how they can better manage conflict in their own working environments.
This session was not only informative but also open and friendly, encouraging questions and interaction with attendees, whilst offering practical tips to deescalate problems before the arise.
The workshop was a fantastic opportunity to introduce the Business Crime Team to support businesses who are victims of crime or want to know how to prevent crimes from occurring. The Business Crime Team is looking to grow their network and connections within the Essex business community, if you would like more information or want to reach out to the team you can find out more here.
Networking Takes Off at our London Southend Airport Event
We were delighted to welcome attendees to the Holiday Inn Southend for a fabulous evening of networking with our Patrons, London Southend Airport. The twilight event was a perfect opportunity for so many businesses to connect and engage with representatives from the airport to discuss the future of the local area.
Attendees heard from Nigel Mayes, the Business Development Director of London Southend Airport. With 30 years in the industry, Nigel is responsible for establishing relationships with airlines and expanding London Southend’s network of flights. As part of his work, he is eager to engage with businesses to understand their flight requirements. He also discussed with attendees their vision for the future of the local area.
There was a fantastic atmosphere throughout the event as guests enjoyed delicious food and forged great connections with fellow attendees. Thank you to everyone who came together to make this event such a success.
Dates for your Diaries
There’s a plethora of exciting events, training and workshops coming up at Essex Chambers of Commerce. Get ready to mark your calendars, book your places and unlock unmissable opportunities to elevate your business to new heights.
🎪 Festival of Business – Wednesday 13 November, 10.00am – 3.00pm
💻 November Virtual Networking – Wednesday 20 November, 10.00am – 11.30am
🛳️ Ambassador Networking Tour – Tuesday 26 Nobember – SOLD OUT!
🏌️ Christmas Networking at Topgolf – Wednesday 11 December, 12.00pm – 2.00pm
We hope you enjoy reading this edition of Grapevine. If you would like to contribute to future editions please view our submissions guide for further details.