It’s Our Birthday! Celebrating Five years of investment into North Essex
It’s Our Birthday! Celebrating Five years of investment into North Essex
From business support and finance to skills, employment and young entrepreneurship, NEEB has spent the last five years helping people and businesses across North Essex access the support they need to thrive.
Five years can go by quickly.
But when you look at what we have achieved as the North Essex Economic Board (NEEB) since 2021, the numbers tell a powerful story.
NEEB was created around the idea that North Essex could achieve more by working together. Seven local authorities – Braintree, Chelmsford, Colchester, Maldon, Tendring, Uttlesford and Essex County Council – have collaborated to bring funding, expertise and opportunities together for the benefit of businesses and residents across the region.
The result has been a vast range of programmes designed to support economic growth while making sure that support is accessible to people and businesses at different stages of their journey.
5 Years of impact
Between 2021 and 2026, NEEB programmes have achieved:
2,292 businesses supported
388 new jobs created
50 new businesses created
78 jobs safeguarded
31 businesses safeguarded
226 businesses provided finance-raising guidance
225 workshops and events delivered
1,072 students reached
60 businesses provided the opportunity for a free stand at the North Essex Expo
Investing £2,352,830.67 in supporting economic growth across North Essex.
These figures represent much more than numbers on a spreadsheet.
Behind them are business owners gaining the confidence to take their next step, people developing skills to improve their employment prospects, entrepreneurs turning an idea into a business and established businesses finding new ways to grow.
What Supporting North Essex businesses looked like
Over the five years, NEEB has delivered a variety of business support programmes, giving local businesses access to practical training, one-to-one advice, specialist support and networking opportunities. The aim has always been to make support useful and accessible, whether a business is just getting started, looking to grow, upskilling or exploring opportunities to access finance. NEEB has also helped businesses connect with wider business communities. However economic growth isn’t just about businesses.
It is also about giving people the skills and confidence they need to participate in the local economy.
NEEB has therefore invested in skills programmes designed to help residents develop valuable digital and IT skills, improve their employability and move closer to employment.
Helping the next generation of entrepreneurs
One of the most exciting areas of NEEB’s work has been its focus on young entrepreneurs.
Dedicated programmes have introduced young people to the practical realities of running a business, helping them understand everything from developing an idea and selling to customers through to financial literacy and managing a business online. Young entrepreneurs have also had opportunities to take their products and ideas into local markets, gaining real-world experience and confidence.
The power of working together
Businesses don’t operate within council boundaries. People don’t necessarily live, work and study in the same district. And economic opportunities rarely stop at an administrative border. By working collectively, the NEEB partners have been able to pool resources, share expertise and develop support that reaches across North Essex.
That collaborative approach has helped create a stronger network of businesses, residents, education providers, local authorities and support organisations, all contributing to the economic future of the region.
NEEB’s work has also evolved over time, responding to changing needs and creating more targeted opportunities.
Looking ahead
As we celebrate five years of delivery, this milestone provides an opportunity to reflect on what can be achieved when local authorities and partners work together towards a shared ambition.
NEEB’s collaboration has helped turn investment into meaningful opportunities for businesses, residents and young people, supporting business growth, creating jobs, and helping people build brighter futures.
As the landscape of local government evolves, our experience and achievements as NEEB demonstrate the importance of continued collaboration in supporting the region’s economy. The challenges and opportunities facing North Essex do not stop at council boundaries, and working together remains vital to ensuring businesses and communities can access the support they need to thrive.
The achievements of the past five years provide a strong foundation to build upon, and a reminder that by sharing resources, expertise and ambition, we can continue to create opportunities and deliver lasting economic benefits for North Essex.