Support
Starting, running and growing a business can be tough - but in Essex, you don’t have to do it alone. EGA have a range of fantastic business support tools and opportunities available to help you and your team.
Get in touch
Get in touch to find out more about our business support offering.
Ambitious Essex
Unlock business support and advice
Ambitious Essex offers tailored, free business support to help you start or scale your company. Access expert advice, practical resources, and the Business Support Helpline, plus events, workshops, and networking opportunities covering everything from finance and marketing to staffing, standards, cyber safety and more.
Grow essex global
Take your business across the world
Grow Essex Global is a support programme delivered with London & Partners to help Essex businesses expand internationally. Conquer the world with tailored workshops, events, trade missions, and investor engagement to strengthen global trading and open new market opportunities. Eligible businesses must be Essex‑based, have at least 10 employees, and either £1M annual UK revenue or equivalent investment.
VISIT ESSEX MEMBERSHIP
Support for the tourism sector
Visit Essex membership is designed to help tourism and hospitality businesses thrive by offering marketing support, PR opportunities, staff training, industry insights and expert guidance from a team specialising in communications, customer service and digital marketing.
Construction Business Support
Build your construction business with expert support
Get tailored, free support designed for construction businesses across Essex. From winning contracts and managing costs to meeting regulations and growing your workforce, access practical advice, resources, and guidance to help your business move forward with confidence.
essex SUPPLY CHAIN PORTAL
Connecting local talent to local opportunity
The Essex Supply Chain Portal is a new digital gateway that connects local suppliers with real construction, infrastructure and retrofit opportunities. It makes it easier for businesses to find work, build relationships and play a bigger role in Essex’s growing homes and infrastructure pipeline, while supporting local spend, inclusive growth and a greener future for the county.
Stories of progress
Don't just take our word for it, hear from the local individuals who are scaling faster and thinking bigger.
“The Innovation Grant Mentoring Programme didn’t just help us write a stronger grant application, it changed how we tell KIGO’s story. That is the kind of support every early-stage founder needs and almost none can find.”
Innovation Grant Mentoring
“The support was incredibly helpful. I was able to step back, really look at where the business was going, and understand the financial side more clearly. It also made me realise the true value of what I was delivering - something I hadn’t fully recognised before.”
Ambitious Essex
“The Essex Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Service has been invaluable in helping us enable apprenticeship employers to secure funding quickly and easily, ensuring smaller employers and apprentices have the same opportunities as other learners.”
Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Service
“The team have been very supportive throughout the process and guided us through each step. Every question was answered in detail, and we would highly recommend the service to other businesses.”
Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Service
“It’s a valuable way to invest in our team and support business growth. The process was straightforward, and the support helped us up skill our team without the usual financial pressures. We’d highly recommend it to others looking to develop their workforce.”
Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Service
“Pitching to companies was the best, from a commercial and learning perspective. Secondly the other cohort members, I feel I've met like minded people going through or have been through similar challenges.”
Grow Essex Global
“My experience with the Essex Growth Agency through Ambitious Women in Essex has been transformational for my business. May it continue as an incubator of talent, driving growth and prosperity across the county.”
Ambitious Women in Essex
"From start to finish, the process was seamless. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, guiding me through every step. I felt valued as a customer, and the results were fantastic. Thank you for a wonderful experience!"
Ambitious Women in Essex