We are here to support you with your International Trade journey and until the end of February, our Members will be able to secure training for as little as £50 thanks to new funding provided by the Essex Chambers of Commerce and Essex County Council! Members can receive  £200 Read More

We were delighted to welcome a special guest to our driver Training Academy at Southend Central when 9-year-old rail enthusiast Zak Dunne joined the team for a very special post-Christmas treat. The visit was set up after Zak sent a heartfelt letter to our Managing Director, Rob Mullen, within which Read More

ETK Group managing director, Bolaji Sofoluwe MBE, was awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in His Majesty King Charles III’s New Year’s Honours List for 2025 in recognition for her outstanding contributions to sustainable Read More

Scrutton Bland are delighted to have acted as lead advisers on the acquisition of Buckhatch Nursery and Garden Centre by Perrywood Limited on 25 September 2024. This is the second acquisition the Scrutton Bland Corporate Finance team have supported the Perrywood Group with, following their purchase Read More

Harwich Haven Authority is pleased to announce the appointment of Paula Carter as a Non-Executive Director. Paula brings with her a wealth of experience spanning governance, strategic planning, and corporate leadership, which will significantly strengthen Read More

Hello and welcome to our new update.  We are only just into 2025, and various announcements have been made from organisations which have some influence on the way you and your colleagues work.  The most important is the news of the phasing out and total end of support for the Windows Read More

Zest Recycle has secured a contract with Formula One Autocentres to manage recycling and waste across its locations. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in integrating sustainability within the retail sector, combining innovative waste management solutions with a shared vision for Read More

Welcome to the newsletter of Open Road published for staff, volunteers, service users, partners and supporters. This issue includes; Successful Charity Ball Recovery in Action Colchester Purple Flag Win SOS Bus Supports World Diabetes Day Open Raod 2025 AGM - A Celebrarion of Recovery and much more!  You can view the Read More

Getting the best for your business from your managed print strategy 2025 is a time where eco-credentials are incredibly important, so doing the right thing for the environment can sit at the forefront of many businesses’ consciences. A lot of companies may think the quickest and easiest solution Read More

Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP (FJG) has welcomed experienced private client solicitor Karina Jowitt as a Partner within the Wills, Life Planning, and Probate team at its Colchester office. Reflecting on her new role, Karina said: "After more than Read More

The Integrated Care Board (ICB), in collaboration with Local Authorities and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), is working to better support businesses and residents in navigating the challenges of *long-term sickness and employment. We know Read More

LapSafe® is thrilled to introduce its NEW ChargeLite™ USB-C range, equipped with cutting-edge USB-C Power Delivery (PD) technology for fast, efficient charging of today’s devices in volume. Offering versatile options including trolleys, Read More

Are you a Fostering Friendly organisation yet? In Essex, we have over 1,000 children in care. We are seeing an unprecedented number of children who need help, but a decline in foster carers too. By sharing a stable home, foster carers change vulnerable children's lives. Since 2024, Essex County Council are a Fostering Friendly organisation. Read More

Blatella Films feature documentary ‘Our Journey to Pride’ which tells the story of Thurrock’s first ever Pride Festival was awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award for Best LGBT Film at the Silver Wings International Film Festival in Read More

Morris Gilbert and Óskar Eiriksson present the UK premiere of Laurent Baffie’s outrageously hilarious worldwide hit comedy play DocDoc - which has had over 4 million people in over 37 countries in stitches - at the Palace Theatre Southend from 18-23 February 2025. In this hysterical farce which pokes fun at all our idiosyncrasies and foibles, Read More

Prime Appointments Recruitment Agency is thrilled to announce a fantastic start to 2025 with a new chapter in its history. Jack O’Brien has been appointed Joint Managing Director alongside founder and mother, Robyn Holmes. This momentous occasion Read More

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) is delighted to announce that Notley High School and Sixth Form has joined its innovative CPR Smart programme. This life-saving initiative equips schools across Essex and Hertfordshire with essential CPR training, ensuring teachers and students are prepared to act confidently in the event of a cardiac arrest. In Read More

USP College marked a momentous occasion as 23 higher education students graduated, celebrating their academic achievements during the Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony held at the Immersive Theatre. This year’s graduates represented a range of fantastic courses, including the Foundation Degree Read More

Ellisons has strengthened its Private Client and Employment teams in Essex with the appointment of two highly experienced Partners; taking the total number of Partners at the firm to 34. Ian Johnston joins as a Partner in the Private Client team, bringing over 16 years of expertise in Wills, Trusts, Read More

We are pleased to confirm the next stage of our project to upgrade street lighting at junction 8 of the M11 and the A120 fast link exit slip to more energy efficient LED lighting.  Upgrading to LED lighting forms a key part of our commitment to reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency. Read More

In today's competitive business landscape, attracting top talent is only half the battle. Retaining them? That's where the real challenge begins. Losing your best employees can mean losing productivity, knowledge, and a competitive edge.  How can businesses retain their best hires and keep them engaged, motivated, and loyal? Here are Read More

SNAP supports families across Essex, Thurrock and Southend who have children, 0-25, with any additional need or disability. We partner with parents to provide compassion, guidance, and hope for the whole family through steadfast support and tailored resources. Crucially, no diagnosis or professional referral is needed to access SNAP. Over the past Read More

Saying goodbye is never easy, but finding a way to honour a loved one's memory can bring a sense of peace during a difficult time. When considering final arrangements for your loved one, an ash interment at a natural burial ground, a place for reflection and remembrance could be the perfect final Read More

Businesses across Essex, Southend and Thurrock are being encouraged to have their say on a new strategy to improve air quality.   Air pollution is the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK. In Essex, more than one in 20 deaths are estimated to be linked in some part to air pollution.   Air Read More

The Autumn Budget, the first of the new Labour government, highlights their focus on tax compliance and timely payments. This involves a significant recruitment drive for 5,000 additional HMRC staff, many of whom will be VAT inspectors. With this increase in recruitment, HMRC can ramp up VAT return inspections Read More

Business owners and shareholders planning to gift shares to their children because of impending changes to inheritance tax (IHT) are urged to seek advice. The announcement of changes to Business Relief (BR) in last Autumn’s Budget has caused Read More

Teledyne has been announced as a headline sponsor for Buzz in the City, Chelmsford’s new sculpture art trail.  This summer, a swarm of large, colourful bee sculptures will be landing outside places of interest in Chelmsford to form the trail which locals and visitors can follow through Read More

London Stansted has announced a landmark 12-month partnership with the UK Innovation Corridor (UKIC), becoming one of its main strategic partners. The new partnership will help support the growth and development of the region, bringing together businesses, Read More

As energy prices go up, many small businesses want to rely less on energy suppliers. Solar panels are a great way to save on energy bills by generating your own power and reducing your environmental impact too.  Solar Together is a group-buying scheme that helps small businesses and residents Read More

Greater Anglia is funding 34 community projects as part of its new Customer and Community Improvement Fund initiative.    Grants of up to £50,000 were available, with the train operator pledging a total of £350,000 this financial Read More

"Tackling shoplifting is a team effort." say our business crime officers, who work closely with retailers and business partners to target shoplifters and bring them to justice. During 2024, our officers made 1,397 arrests for shop theft Read More

Freeport East is strengthening its ability to support regional economic growth with the addition of three new team members. Jonathan Rudd, Laura Mayne, and Sophia Padget have joined the Freeport East team as Project Delivery Officers and will operate Read More

Nick Butler, director, Drivetech, shares some best practice tips to help fleets get their drivers EV ready.  The AA’s iconic yellow van fleet has seen countless improvements over the decades – improvements still very much underway. In December, The AA welcomed 15 battery electric Read More

After more than a decade of sniffing out danger and saving lives, Jarvis, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service’s search and rescue dog, is retiring at the age of 11 — or 77 in human years. Jarvis finished his career as top dog for the National Read More

How to capture attention online and turn that attention into value is a big question, and my approach boils down to three key areas: Business Branding, Personal Branding, and Video. Business Branding: Building a Strong Foundation Many businesses try to jump straight into trying to go viral, but not Read More

New route and airline partnership with Eastern Airways to Newquay, Cornwall  Flights will take off from 3rd April 2025, operating seven days a week With one-way fares from £59.99, adding a return to domestic services from LSA London Southend Airport has announced daily flights Read More

2024 marked a significant step forward for fire safety across Essex, with the establishment of the Business Engagement Team at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.  In 2024 the Business Engagement Team completed: 1190 Business Safe and Well Visits  9 Impact Days, working with companies Read More

The Port of Tilbury, a part of Forth Ports group, is situated on the UK’s most renowned river for the import and export of goods and services: the River Thames. Each year, the Port has a throughput of 16 million tonnes, making it the largest Read More

In our Workplace Wellbeing Survey 2024, 39% of respondents said that Private Health Insurance was the most valuable wellbeing benefit. Essex Chambers Members can show their people they care with Surgery Choices, our private health insurance tailored for UK businesses. Employees benefit from quick treatment and companies benefit from fewer absence Read More

You know that feeling after a great networking event - your pocket full of business cards, your head buzzing with opportunities, but your heart sinking at the thought of all that follow-up admin? Well, we had the pleasure of solving this exact challenge for Nick Brown with a bit of AI magic. The Challenge: Read More

Work has started on an £250,000 project to protect the quality and resilience of drinking water for people in Essex. Essex & Suffolk Water is renewing 1.1km of water mains in St Lawrence which support the water supply for more than 600 customers. By replacing older pipes that serve the area, the investment will reduce the risk of bursts Read More