Colchester business news
Colchester business news, newest first: openings, closures, awards and jobs across the area.
Top story
Colchester Institute Apprentice Returns to Train Plumbers
Phil Rawlingson from Frinton trained as a plumbing apprentice at Colchester Institute, spent seven years in the trade and now teaches in the same workshops.
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Colchester City Council
Free Business Advice Reaches 22 Colchester Firms, With a Pop-In on 2 December
NEEB Link has given free advice to 22 Colchester businesses this year, with a pop-in at the Greyfriars Hotel on 2 December, 10am to noon. How to book a slot.
Business
Barclays Colchester Leaves High Street on 4 December
Barclays shuts its 9 High Street branch at 3pm on Friday 4 December and reopens at 10a Culver Street West on 14 December. What the gap means for you.
Business
B&M Colchester St John's Walk Opens 28 November
B&M opens a third Colchester store on Saturday 28 November at Unit 1, 28 St John's Walk in the city centre. The address and the other B&Ms nearby.
Buses
Arriva to Sell Colchester Buses to First, Routes 1, 2, 3 and 8 Kept
Arriva plans to sell its Colchester depot, buses and staff to First Bus, with First running routes 1, 2, 3 and 8 from 20 December if the CMA approves.
Colchester Garrison
Colchester Garrison Caterers Win National Award for SEND Internships
Sodexo's team at Colchester's army garrison won the Extra Mile Award at the Foodservice Cateys for paid routes into work for young people with SEND.
Colchester
Colchester Castle Concerts: Fenwick Footfall Up 5% in 2026
A five per cent footfall rise at Fenwick is the only 2026 figure the council has published for the Castle Summer Series. The £24m and £6.5m both come from a 2024/25 report.
Colchester
Colchester High Street: Cabinet Rejects Shop Auction Plan
Cabinet threw out the motion to auction long-empty city centre units on 2 September, saying vacancy rates are too low to qualify. The minutes are now published.
Colchester
Colchester city centre: Cabinet asked to auction empty shops
A motion at Cabinet on 2 September asks Colchester to use rental auctions on units empty a year, and to publish a new high street strategy within six months.
West Mersea
West Mersea broadband: full fibre now live, from £35 a month
Amphora Connect's full-fibre network went live in West Mersea on 14 August, reaching around 4,000 homes and businesses. The speeds, the prices and the caveats.