Nicola Coulson, founder of ‘Virtual Assist by Nicola’ transformed the setback of redundancy into the realisation of a dream and the launchpad for her own business. Through help from peer network programme Group2Grow she has found reassurance and renewed confidence to achieve her business growth ambitions.

Caryl Lynzy, from Colchester, created her business Butterfly Home & Pet Sitters in early 2023 after falling in love with the flexible lifestyle that home and pet sitting offered. Quickly building up her own customer base, she established her own company – and found support from the Group 2 Grow Peer Network Programme from Backing Essex Business to create a business that thrived.

Supporting St Helena Hospice Through Ethical Enterprise Total Clean, in support of St Helena a commercial cleaning business based in Colchester, talks about how it ‘provides a service, whilst giving back’ and how it was able put in motion its plan for the future thanks to support from a business support programme funded by the North Essex Economic Board.

The North Essex Economic Board (NEEB) have commissioned a 2 year business support programme which will be provided by support service Backing Essex Business.

Owner of Colchester-based business Transition Nutrition, Michelle Paterson, finds renewed perspective and direction for her business with help from the Backing Essex Business Peer Network Programme Group2Grow..

Discover how Richard Haward’s Oysters, a family-run business since 1732, is preserving Colchester Native Oysters while expanding globally with support from Back to Business. Learn about their sustainable practices, heritage, and growth journey.

With the support of Backing Essex Business, Let’s Do Business Finance and the local council, Pasini Leisure were able to expand their operations under the challenging circumstances of the pandemic, which enabled the owners to make the Three Wise Monkeys into the popular venue it is today.