2023 – 2025 Impact: Supporting businesses in North Essex on behalf of the North Essex Economic Board
Providing Business support, workshops and training, and creating and safeguarding jobs in the North Essex region.
Concluding in March 2025, for 2 years Let’s Do Business Group have been proud to deliver business support and training to businesses across the North Essex districts of Braintree, Colchester, Chelmsford, Maldon and Tendring – helping to spark economic growth in the region, and support businesses to start up, grow and thrive.
Funded by the North Essex Economic Board under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, since 2023 our Essex Team have delivered fully funded support and advice to businesses in North Essex with an aim to create and support the strengthening and growth of local economies. The North Essex Economic Board (NEEB), a partnership of local authorities in the region, since its inception in 2019 has been committed to making North Essex more prosperous. With a four-pronged strategy that focuses on economic growth and creating a North Essex with opportunities for future generations, a key part of NEEB’s core strategy is supporting businesses and entrepreneurs to make the region a vibrant hub that doesn’t just support businesses but attracts them, too.
Support delivered to North Essex businesses
To create a strong and supportive eco-system for businesses in North Essex, the business support programme delivered by Let’s Do Business Group offered businesses located in Braintree, Chelmsford, Colchester, Tendring and Maldon fully funded and tailored support on topics from starting a business and business planning, to advancements and opportunities in AI, finance and accounting to marketing and soft management skills.
Delivered in the forms of both 1:1 mentoring and advice as well as fully funded workshops and training opportunities, the programme drew from the expert team from Let’s Do Business Group and utilised the vast network of business support in Greater Essex – encouraging collaboration and a stronger community that works together to make Essex a great place to do business.
“The Essex management team, our Essex-based team of Business Advisory Managers and I are all proud of the results delivered in the past two years under this support programme – with tangible differences made to many businesses across North Essex. Further, this investment in their growth has made a significant and positive impact on economic prosperity across the districts in the North Essex Economic Board.”
The Impact
From 2023 – 2025, Let’s Do Business Group provided more than 600 businesses with expert guidance and financial support – helping them navigate a challenging economy, and seize opportunities for growth. Each business supported received on average over £850 worth of specialist support at no cost to them – generating a social value of over £90,000 for the local economy.
Key outcomes:
612 businesses received direct support, equipping them with the tools for sustainability and expansion
156 jobs were created and safeguarded as a result of support provided, securing employment opportunities across the region for residents and contributing to economic growth
89 new businesses embraced new technologies, reinforcing the North Essex Economic Board’s aim of spurring innovation and digital transformation in North Essex
A catalyst for future growth in North Essex
With the conclusion of this business support programme, the North Essex Economic Board plans to adapt and innovate its offering to businesses in the region, to ensure that future initiatives support organisations for whatever the future brings.
For more information on support available in Essex and to find out about future initiatives, visit our Essex Business Support hub
