A durable guide to asking for feedback ethically, responding in public, and keeping a simple log so trust compounds over time Reputation is not a mood and it is not…
ONS labour bulletin: cooler hiring signals for Essex firms this autumn
The Office for National Statistics labour market package published on 15 September 2026 shows unemployment steady at 4.9%, softer payrolled employment and vacancies, and private-sector regular pay growth at 2.9%.…
MPC week: gilts, QT and what elevated yields mean for local finance
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee decides Bank Rate on Thursday 17 September 2026 and will also set the next annual pace of quantitative tightening. Published expectations point to…
From Hythe Quay mouldings to national infrastructure: SGI Composites turns 30
Essex GRP manufacturer SGI Composites is marking 30 years in business, having grown from a small composite moulding company into a specialist supplier of access systems, linings, containment and other…
Marketing habits local firms can keep without a campaign treadmill
A durable guide to being findable, clear, and consistent so Essex businesses win work without reinventing the wheel every month Marketing for a small firm is often feast or famine:…
Credit control habits that help local firms get paid without souring the relationship
A reusable guide to terms, invoicing, chasing, and when to pause work so Essex SMEs protect cash without inventing drama Getting paid is not a personality contest. It is a…
Red Lion Books keeps High Street reading alive after nearly five decades
Family-owned specialist bookseller earns national recognition while still taking orders overnight and hosting clubs on the shop floor On the High Street, Red Lion Books makes its living the old…
Bookkeeping habits that keep a Colchester SME decision-ready
A reusable guide to reconciliations, receipts, and monthly reviews so local firms can see the truth before they hire, price, or expand Bookkeeping is often treated as a tax chore…
Colchester Brewery keeps traditional double-drop ale flowing from Wakes Colne
The City of Colchester microbrewery, Active at Companies House since 2011, still centres its trade on local pubs and festivals while offering weekday click and collect from the Viaduct Brewhouse.…
Green-business habits Colchester firms can keep without a sustainability department
A lasting checklist on energy, waste, procurement, and circular thinking that small local businesses can run week after week “Going green” is often sold as a transformation project. For most…