Help us to help you by taking part in the Chelmsford Business Survey 2024. This will help us develop targeted support programmes and initiatives that address your specific needs. You could also win a £300 Go Ape voucher!
Support for businesses
We see every day the challenges that businesses are facing and the impact that continued periods of uncertainty are having on the local economy. Cost of living pressures, supply chain disruption and labour shortages are just some of the key issues affecting businesses, their operations, and their ability to grow.
We will do all we can to support businesses through these unpredictable times.
We have created an Economic Renewal Plan and offer a wide-ranging package of support initiatives. We want to help revitalise businesses and position them to make the most of opportunities.
We have also formed a unique partnership with councils across North and Mid Essex to develop a business support and skills programme. You can read more about the North Essex Economic Board.
In addition, you can visit:
- the BEST Growth Hub, which provides businesses in Essex with a single point of access to a wide range of local, regional and national support
- Let’s Do Business Group for free debt and financial advice
- National Business Support Service for free government business advice
We have developed a business support booklet detailing the range of support that we can offer your business.
You will receive a copy of the booklet with your business rate bill.
The plan draws on our 2020 business survey and a sets out a number of priorities that we are already working on.
The plan's key themes are:
- business support
- promotion of Chelmsford
- skills
We have partnered with Visit Essex to give targeted support to businesses in the visitor economy. We know that the visitor economy has been particularly hard hit over recent times. So, we are keen to work with Visit Essex and businesses to provide support in this area.
With the free Visit Essex membership, you will be able to have your own entry on www.visitessex.com with online booking facilities. Visit Essex will also include your business in relevant marketing activities and campaigns.
In addition, you can enjoy:
- access to free training courses
- invitations to Visit Essex events
- monthly member newsletters and industry updates
- access to Visit Essex’s image library for you to use freely on your website to promote what Essex has to offer
To apply for this fantastic opportunity, you need to submit the Visit Essex membership application form.
You can download the Visit Essex’s Terms and Conditions for full details.
Following a successful collaboration in 2023, we are once again teaming up with local digital marketing experts Better Agency.
Offering a wealth of opportunities for businesses of all sizes and stages, the first cohort of the Get Better in Chelmsford programme launched in June 2024. The second free six-week programme started on 3 October 2024. It offers six free marketing sessions to small businesses in the area, designed to level up your marketing skills and polish your business strategies.
Here’s a brief overview of what you can learn:
- Building a personal brand: learn how to create a strong personal brand that stands out
- HubSpot setup and utilisation: gain practical knowledge on setting up and making the most of HubSpot
- Improving Google Rankings: discover how to develop an action plan to enhance your website’s visibility on Google
- Generating leads with Google Ads and Performance Max: understand how to effectively attract business leads through targeted Google advertising
- Leveraging paid campaigns on LinkedIn and Meta: explore strategies for optimising your paid social media campaigns
- Understanding GA4: get to grips with setting up and analysing data using Google Analytics 4
Each in-person session is at Patch, Chelmsford in the city centre. Sessions last for 45 minutes and are packed with valuable insights and actionable advice to help you reach your marketing goals.
To secure your place, you can register online now.
Podcast
In addition, the Get Better in Chelmsford Podcast is back for season two with an 8-episode podcast series.
If you missed out on the first series, it’s not too late to catch up. You can listen to the original series.
12-week mentorship
The programme will also select a further eight businesses to take through a comprehensive 12-week initiative, which will see businesses receive personalised 1-2-1 support tailored to their specific needs.
We are working with MKR Solutions to support businesses to develop and carry out a decarbonisation plan. This will help businesses reduce their carbon footprint, increase productivity and make financial savings.
This programme gives 1-2-1 support and can help businesses from across all sectors. It focuses on the collective culture of continuous improvement to maintain and drive change in line with Net Zero goals.
To gain the most value from this programme, your businesses should be at least 18 months old.
We will assess applications individually and will notify you if you are successful.
We are working with Squarestar Digital to support Chelmsford businesses, so they can get the most out of paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram.
This training is specifically designed for businesses that currently use paid advertising on social media and that have a dedicated monthly budget for this.
The training will support businesses to use the best tools within the platforms to promote their business in a way that will generate the most benefit.
We will assess applications individually and will notify you if you are successful.
We recognise that businesses are worried about rising costs.
We have produced a summary of support and services which may be able to help you during this difficult time.
Energy bills
Ofgem offers advice to businesses who are worried about their energy bills.
Citizens Advice also provide advice for small businesses who can’t afford their energy bills.
Reduce energy costs
Reducing energy and fuel usage not only reduces your carbon footprint, but also helps the bottom line.
The Carbon Trust's calculator helps small and medium-sized businesses assess typical energy use in their sector and also has a range of other online tools to help businesses reduce their energy and consumption costs.
Finance, loans and debt management
The Recovery Loan Scheme helps small and medium sized businesses access loans and finance to aid their recovery.
The British Business Bank has free resources around debt management, cash flow, and understanding and managing debt. If you are struggling to pay your self-assessment tax bill, HMRC is offering instalments and payment plans.
Business Debtline is a charity that provides free and independent debt advice over the phone and online. It also provides a range of debt advice factsheets on topics ranging from business debts, debt solutions to dealing with creditors.
Recruitment support
Skills and recruitment are key issues for businesses, and we are aware that many businesses are struggling to fill vacancies in the current climate.
Find a job service is the government’s official job vacancy service, supporting employers to fill their vacancies.
The Essex Opportunities Portal offers employers a free service to recruit individuals with the necessary skills to start work immediately. This one stop shop also provides information and advice on jobs, careers, skills, and training.
The Essex Wellbeing Service supports Essex businesses via their Working Well Accreditation.
This consists of:
- workplace health and wellbeing sessions
- Mental Health First Aid training
- the Working Well Accreditation, where organisations can be recognised for their commitment to staff health and wellbeing