University of Essex Archives - Invest Colchester

Image of MOLO's aim of the app which is to manage modern family life effectively

UK Startup Award winner helped by University of Essex researchers

Posted on July 8, 2026 | by Editor | Leave a Comment

A startup supported by Essex researchers to develop a groundbreaking app to help parents cope with the mental load of bringing up children in the modern world has won a UK Startup Award.

MOLO, the AI-powered ‘family operating system’, has won the Consumer Services StartUp of the Year Award for London with judges highlighting the partnership with the University of Essex.

The UK Startup Awards recognise the achievements of amazing individuals who have had a great idea, spotted the opportunity and taken the risks to launch a new product or service.

Find out more https://www.essex.ac.uk/news/2026/06/17/uk-startup-award-winner-helped-by-essex-researchers

Image credit: MOLO

Students unveil bold new vision for Colchester’s iconic ‘Jumbo’ Water Tower

Posted on June 4, 2026 | by Editor | Leave a Comment

Students from the University of Essex’s Edge Hotel School have come up with ideas for the future of Colchester’s iconic Jumbo Water Tower, delivering bold new suggestions that impressed project leaders.

The Victorian water tower, affectionately known as ‘Jumbo’ locally, is currently undergoing a multi-million refurbishment, led by The Balkerne Tower Trust.

The consultancy project challenged students to develop creative proposals for the historic structure, building on earlier calls for fresh ideas to transform the much-loved site. Rising to the task, the group went beyond the original brief, proposing that Jumbo should become a destination restaurant, The Balkerne Bistro, rather than a traditional events venue.

Image credit: Edge Hotel School, University of Essex, Wivenhoe House Hotel

University of Essex celebrates inspirational business innovations

Posted on February 5, 2026 | by Editor | Leave a Comment

Groundbreaking partnerships that are revolutionising industries around the country have been recognised during the University of Essex’s Celebration of Innovation.

The annual event highlights outstanding collaborations between Essex academics and businesses, charities, or organisations that have led to new and innovative ways of working.

Njord Offshore claimed the Best Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) award on the night for their commitment to developing a turbine warning system.

Read more … https://tinyurl.com/musepef5

New £2.5 million BioSTAR laboratory to open at the University of Essex to train scientists for the NHS and the life-sciences sector

Posted on February 5, 2026 | by Editor | Leave a Comment

The facility will boost the training of healthcare scientists whose expertise underpins 80 per cent of NHS diagnoses – whilst also providing students with the research skills needed to work in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.

Opening to undergraduates in 2026, the BioSTAR-Lab, will include a Microbiology and Cancer Diagnostics Laboratory and an open-plan Molecular Biology Laboratory in the School of Life Sciences.

Read more … https://tinyurl.com/nn23dkfm

UOE Life Sciences microscope 1000x1000 — UOE Life Sciences microscope 1000×1000

Image credit: University of Essex

£10.7m Office Development Topping Out at University of Essex

Posted on July 31, 2023 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

A topping-out celebration has marked the latest milestone in the construction of the landmark £10.7m Parkside office development on the Knowledge Gateway research and technology park on the University of Essex’s Colchester Campus.

The Grade A, 41,571 sq. ft. office is the largest headquarters style office currently under construction in the eastern region and will be ready for occupation later in 2023.

Image credit: University of Essex

£10.7m Expansion of Parkside Office Development Underway at the University of Essex

Posted on June 21, 2022 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

Work has started on a major £10.7m office development at Parkside on the Knowledge Gateway research and technology park on the University of Essex’s Colchester Campus.

The Grade A, 41,571 sq. ft. office is the largest headquarters style office currently under construction in the eastern region and will be ready in 2023.

The building is designed to be as flexible as possible so it can accommodate a large anchor tenant or be sub-divided into smaller units.

Image credit: University of Essex

Artists Impression of Parkside Office Village

Work starts on £10.7m extension to Parkside Office Village at University of Essex

Posted on December 21, 2021 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

Work on the latest £10.7m phase of Parkside Office Village at the University of Essex will start early in 2022 after the appointment of R G Carter as the main contractor.

The new four-storey landmark building will open in 2023 and will have a total floor area of 3,764 sq m of high-quality office space.

It is designed to be as flexible as possible so it can accommodate a large anchor tenant or be sub-divided into smaller units depending on demand.

Image credit: University of Essex

University of Essex tops the table for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships in the UK

Posted on October 29, 2021 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

Newly released data from Innovate UK has revealed the University of Essex as the leading institution for active Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) in the UK.

Topping the table for the first time, Essex has fast become the partner of choice for businesses looking to innovate across both the East of England and London, and now the UK, with 40 KTPs and £10.2m secured in funding to support their delivery.

(Image credit: University of Essex)

James Fogg and team of RoleCatcher March 2021

RoleCatcher Platform Aims to Help Struggling Job Seekers

Posted on April 6, 2021 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

RoleCatcher, an innovative tech start-up based at the University of Essex’s Innovation Centre, has launched a new platform to empower job seekers. It is on a mission to disrupt the recruitment industry and put candidates back in control of their job search. The RoleCatcher platform enables users to search multiple job boards, organise their contacts, and track applications in one centralised hub. Candidates can also monitor their progress with the platform’s in-depth performance metrics.

The concept was born of founder James Fogg’s own frustrations with the recruitment process. In 2019, he joined the job market for the first time in nearly twenty years and was shocked to discover how dramatically things had changed.

Image credit: The Innovation Centre at the University of Essex

Essex Among Best Universities for Local Growth and Community Engagement

Posted on April 6, 2021 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

The University of Essex is one of the best universities for engaging with the community and helping generate local growth and regeneration, according to a new Government report.

The first Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF), published today by Research England, shows the rich contributions English higher education providers make, both economically and socially, on both local and national levels.

The findings show Essex is performing above average in several key areas. It is in the top 10% for its work with the public and third sector and in the top 20% for its public and community engagement and work on local growth and regeneration. The University also performed well for commercialisation and research partnerships.

Image credit: University of Essex