Business support Archives - Invest Colchester

Colchester Business Enterprise Agency’s Scoops National Award

Posted on December 4, 2019 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

Colchester Business Enterprise Agency (COLBEA) was named Enterprise Support Organisation of the Year at the 2019 National Enterprise Network Awards. Enterprise Support Organisation of the Year (Turnover Under £750k) was awarded to Colbea for their strategic and astute practices including match-funding, sponsorship, partnerships and engagement with local businesses, the judges praised Colbea’s strong commitment and determination to support impactful initiatives. The end result is an agency that provides outstanding enterprise support, which is driving forward economic prosperity within Colbea’s community.

Image credit: Mandeep Singh Gabhari

New £12m Innovation Centre Opened by Chancellor John Bercow at University of Essex

Posted on July 15, 2019 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

A new home for early stage and start-up technology companies and student entrepreneurs has been officially opened by The Rt Hon John Bercow MP at the University of Essex’s Knowledge Gateway research and technology park. The Innovation Centre is being operated by the UK’s leading innovation centre operator, Oxford Innovation, and will eventually host more than 50 businesses. It is also the base for Studio X, the university’s digital creative collaborative studio and student start-up programme.

Image credit: University of Essex, David Higgleton

Ashleigh Seymour Rutherford CEO Colbea OCt 2017

All change at Colchester Business Enterprise Agency

Posted on October 4, 2017 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

Following the retirement of Bob Baggalley, Chief Executive of the Colchester Business Enterprise Agency (Colbea), after 18 years in the role, the new Chief Executive is Ashleigh Seymour-Rutherford. Ashleigh has spent four years in business support arena as Assistant CEO of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, where she led the business development team as well as establishing the Suffolk Young Chamber brand, which ‘bridged the gap’ between business and local schools. Her time working within the Chamber network also encompassed a fellowship with the Policy team at the British Chambers and has led to a passion for both business support and supporting young people into business. Prior to working in the counties, Ashleigh worked in the City in financial services for 12 years, the last six of those spent at Seymour-Pierce where she was part of the team that listed Supergroup – known better as the brand Superdry. Ashleigh has worked with and within many different industries throughout her professional career, which has given her a well-rounded view on what makes a business successful.

The public consultation on the future of the A120 will begin on 17^th January 2017 and run for eight weeks.