Welcome to the very last edition of Grapevine for the year, and what a year it’s been. It has been a privilege to share our members’ good news, expertise and accomplishments over the last 12 months. Each edition has been packed full of incredible articles, giving a great snapshot of all the goings on in the county.
It’s also been another great year for Essex Chambers of Commerce. Our member community has grown and strengthened throughout the year, and we are proud to work with, support and represent a selection of superb businesses that make up the fabric of our entrepreneurial ecosystem.
One of the ways we’ve grown our membership is through our fantastic programme of events. We’ve had the opportunity to host events at several brilliant businesses across the county. From Rega Research, Penguin Random House, Radisson Blu London Stansted Hotel, Fenwick Colchester, Southend United, Wilkin & Sons and Braxted Park Estate, it has been a pleasure to showcase such fantastic organisations. These events provide our members with valuable, and often exclusive, access, giving them the opportunity to build relationships while experiencing the inner workings of prestigious enterprises.
Through the year we’ve:
- Hosted 35 Trade Expert Training & Academy courses
- Held 16 International Trade Events
- Facilitated 13 Webinars and Workshops
- Organised 30 Networking Events
- Undertook our biggest ever Festival of Business with over 1,000 attendees
Total events, training, webinars and workshops held = 94
Total number of attendees welcomed = 3,042
We’re committed to increasing the number of physical networking events in 2026, and details of our first quarter schedule are already live on our website.
2025 has also been an incredible year for our private events. Along with the relaunch of the Network of Women at Essex County Cricket ground this summer, another highlight was a Parliamentary Reception at the House of Lords with Lord Johnson of Lainston CBE.
It was an honour to be joined by Lord Dominic Johnson, Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce Shevaun Haviland, and members of our business community. Attendees enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea in historic and prestigious surroundings, with valuable connections made while overlooking the Thames, beautifully framed by a double rainbow arching through the centre of the London Eye.
The work of the Chambers goes beyond our training and events programme. We are also dedicated to supporting our community. In May our CEO, Denise Rossiter, led a Chambers team on a terrifying and exhilarating skydive, raising a staggering £5,736 for our previous Charity of the Year, Mid & North East Essex Mind.
We are currently brainstorming ways we can raise funds for our current Charity of the Year, Open Road. Our recent Christmas Raffle, drawn at our Christmas Networking Breakfast at Braxted Park, raised over £1,000 for the charity. We can’t wait to see what total our charitable endeavours deliver for Open Road in 2026. Plans are also underway to provide additional support for our charity members, with further details to be revealed in the New Year.
But it’s not just charities that need our support. We also recognise the importance of backing local community groups. That’s why we were delighted to sponsor the away kit for the Stanway Pegasus Under 14s Girls Team, a Colchester-based grassroots football team.
Thank you to everyone who attended our events, worked with us, became a member, or showed your support for the Essex Chambers.
It’s been a privilege to serve the businesses of our county, and we look forward to continuing to do so in 2026 and beyond.