Business Support

Funded by UK Government and commissioned by Essex County Council, the BEST Growth Hub is the single point of access to a wide range of local, regional and national support. Dedicated navigators can offer free and impartial signposting to the most suitable business support available.

Visit the website for information on business finance and grants available, as well as a dedicated events finder where businesses can upload and view local business events.

BEST Growth Hub

Fully funded by Essex County Council, our Backing Essex programme offers a range of services including 12 hours of one-to-one advice, financial advice and a skills assessment and brokerage service.

Backing Essex Business

Ambitious Women in Essex is a thriving community set up to support and celebrate local women in business and can be accessed via its social media pages on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Ambitious Women in Essex shares useful information and support available to its followers. You can also keep up with its regular networking events via the dedicated page on Eventbrite.

Ambitious Women in Essex

Essex County Council has highlighted five future growth sectors which will secure a greener, stronger, more equal and sustainable economy in the future for Essex.

• Construction and Retrofit
• Clean Energy
• Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering
• Digi-Tech
• Life Sciences

For more information on sector growth support, please visit the dedicated pages using the button below.

Sector Growth

Essex is committed to promoting sustainable business practices and supporting the transition to a green economy. The county offers a range of initiatives and resources to help green businesses flourish.

For more information on sustainable business support, please visit the dedicated pages using the button below.

Green sector growth

Essex Chambers of Commerce is a member organisation, delivering information, support and events to businesses throughout Essex, as well as providing a channel to influence policy at a local, national and regional level.

Essex Chambers of Commerce

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is a member organisation for small businesses and the self-employed. It provides tools, information, guidance and events to businesses, as well as discounts on business essentials such as insurance.

Federation of Small Businesses

Throughout Greater Essex, each of the 14 district councils have a dedicated business support offering which can be found via their individual websites. Contact the Ambitious Essex Team for more in depth information or links to any of the local Economic Development Officers.

The North Essex Economic Board (NEEB) also has a dedicated business support offering via its ‘Blueprint for Business‘ programme for businesses situated in Tendring, Colchester, Maldon, Braintree and Chelmsford.

Anglia Ruskin University provides support for business across Essex and beyond through programmes of work such as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Innovation Vouchers, workshops and webinars, as well as meeting room hire.

Anglia Ruskin University

Run by University of Essex, Angels@Essex is a free, invitation-only investment platform that links Angel Investors to entrepreneurs with innovative ideas.

Angels@Essex