https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/ambitious-women-in-essex

Ambitious Women in Essex, Colchester (2026)

07/04/2026

Pleased to announce details of our next in person meet up for 2026, and its another collaboration with our friends over at Uttlesford District Council

Join us at Flitch Sports Bar in Great Dunmow, for our usual friendly networking and a hot cup of tea!

📅 Wednesday 20 May
🕰️ 10.30 - 12.30

Our guest speaker will be the fabulous Sarah (Brockwell) Plummer, who will be sharing her expertise on overcoming imposter syndrome and how to network effectively.

Sign up now via Eventbrite https://lnkd.in/eN9MFNkS

23/03/2026

Ever thought about coming to one of our co working days but wasn't sure what to expect?

Well now with huge thanks to Blatella Films, I'm pleased to share this little snippet which was captured at our last day, held in March at Colbea.

These days are free, friendly, supportive and fun and give all attendees the opportunity to spend a day amongst other amazing Ambitious Women.

What else you can expect...

👍🏼Free on site parking
👍🏼Free tea and coffee all day
👍🏼Informative Lunch and Learn session delivered by one of our attendees
👍🏼Contact details of everyone who attends (with permission)
👍🏼Access to information about business support across Essex

Our next day is taking place on 21 May at Colbeas Central Business Centre from 9am, register now via Eventbrite: https://lnkd.in/eJWhcNYX

Massive thanks again to Benjamin Scarsbrook for this wonderful video which so perfectly captures our day!

08/03/2026

Happy International Women's Day!

Ambitious Women in Essex is here EVERY SINGLE DAY providing a safe space where you can feel supported and celebrated.

A place to connect with others, to come together and lift each other up.

We are women supporting women, and reminding others to follow us on this mission.

Thanks for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you all out and about very soon!

23/02/2026

Still time to sign up to our first networking event of 2026, as we join forces with NEEB Growth at Gridserve, Braintree.

You can expect the usual friendly networking, plus all attendees will be treated to a hot drink, followed by a special session from our guest speaker, the award-winning personal stylist 'Charlotte Loves Style'.

We will also be joined by the fabulous Tina Wing - Delicious Photography who will be taking headshot photographs on the day.

🤩 Wednesday 25 February 2026

🤩 10am-12pm

🤩 Gridserve, A131, Braintree

Register for free now https://lnkd.in/e6ZNe9aE

18/02/2026

Join us for an event with Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) at their Chelmsford campus on Wednesday 4th March, from 5:30pm to 7pm. This event showcases a current research project, being led by ARU and supported by Ambitious Women in Essex.

Speakers will be Dr. Wei Kang and Dr. Frank Nyame-Asiamah from ARU, as well as Eve Calderbank and Molly Scott from Ambitious Women in Essex.

Eventbrite tickets: https://lnkd.in/eC9wkSg2

12/02/2026

Join us for International Women’s Day 2026!

During March, Ambitious Women in Essex will be celebrating International Women's Day, which is held annually on 8 March.

You can find us at the events below, which contain links to register!
• Attending the first Female Founders Rise event in Essex, at Patch, Chelmsford. Tuesday 3 March, 5:30pm to 8:30pm
https://luma.com/bv0sro3t?utm_campaign=B2B%20waitlist%20%28Copy%29&utm_content=%5BFFR%5D%20International%20Women%20s%20Day&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ActiveCampaign

• We will be hosting a joint event with Anglia Ruskin University at their Chelmsford campus. Wednesday 4 March, 5:30pm to 7pm
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1982421547213?aff=oddtdtcreator

• Supporting our Essex Growth Agency colleagues at the Essex Build Expo at Hylands House, Chelmsford, which includes an area dedicated to Women in Construction. Friday the 6th of March, 8:45am to 6pm
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1916763654689?aff=oddtdtcreator

• Hosting our next co-working day at Colbea, Colchester. Wednesday the 11th of March, 9am to 4pm
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1980199711643?aff=oddtdtcreator

• Finishing our fortnight of celebrations at Metrobank, Colchester at a special event hosted by Get Ahead and Colchester BID, where Eve will be one of the guest speakers for the evening. Thursday the 12th of March, 6pm to 8pm . (Link to follow)

12/01/2026

🥳 Our Colchester Co Working Day in partnership with Colbea are back for 2026! 🥳

This years Colchester sessions will be moving to bi monthly, as we look to fill the gaps with other locations across Essex - any suggestions for venues please do drop me a message or comment below!

Come banish those January Blues with our first outing on Friday 30 January. Register now via Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1980184533244?aff=oddtdtcreator

Next up we will be holding a special session to celebrate International Womens Day... your challenge at this one is to bring along another amazing Ambitious Woman with you and share the love.... This one will be on Wednesday 11 March, register now https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1980199711643?aff=oddtdtcreator

Both sessions will be held at Colbeas North Colchester Business Centre.

💖 Sharing some amazing feedback we had from one of our regular attendees last year...."These co-working days have made such a difference in many ways for me personally - it's really given me a sense of connection with all of the wonderful women I've met through attending, inspiration to keep putting energy into growth and the opportunity to find and buy from local businesses!"

Any questions on how these sessions work, just drop me a message at [email protected]

23/12/2025

📢 There was only one way to end our 2025 Female Founder Festive Shout outs, with one of our favourite Ambitious Women in Essex Carla Watkins.

Carla is a self described multipod and the founder of Carla Watkins Brand Photography - Visual Magic Maker, Ink Drops Boxes Ltd and The Creative Reboot podcast, as well as helping out with her families business TEMPRD Chocolate.

You are very likely to see Carla out and about on the Essex business networking scene, as a champion of other small local businesses and connector of people.

So whether its photography, stationery or chocolate you need in your life, or simply a friendly chat with an amazing human... do please check out Carla's various endeavours at the following sites....

Photography: https://carlawatkins.com/

Ink Drops: https://inkdrops.co.uk/

Creative Reboot: https://creativereboot.co/

Temprd: https://temprd.co.uk/

💌 This final nomination was from me (unprovoked), as a thanks to Carla for being the most amazing, continuous support and friend since I met her 4 years ago. You can also see evidence of her wonderful work in my new headshot which you will see gracing my LinkedIn profile. Carla you are the true definition of an Ambitious Woman in Essex.

✨✨ And that is the end of our 2025 FFFSO series, a huge thanks to everyone who self nominated, or nominated others. It has been an absolute joy to be able to shout about each and every one of you. Every day my daughter has asked... "who is it today Mummy" and made me tell her all about the amazing woman in front of me, which has been wonderful.

Watch this space for a continuation of this series in 2026.....✨✨

23/12/2025

📢 Our penultimate Female Founder Festive Shoutout goes to Sarah Ambrose, founder of The Skull Shed.

The Skull Shed Creative Crafts and Upholstery Solutions, officially started in 2021 when, knowing Sarah was a crafty person, her neighbours asked if she would make sofa cushions for their campervan.

Roll forward nearly 6 years and they are now Vanlife Conversions and Sarah know owns and runs, The Skull Shed.

Specialising in custom sized and shaped cushions, mainly for van conversions, self builds but also anywhere that needs a new cushion... Outdoor furniture, boats, window seats, antique chairs, anywhere!

Sarah has slowly built up her brand, showing her skull shed logo and name wherever she can - hoping that her logo and name are remembered as standing out and something a little different and special in this field.

In 2023, Sarah was invited to join The Guild of Mastercraftsmen, a huge honour and she is very proud to share their logo and values.

In summer, you will find Sarah at various van festivals, all over the UK, to promote her work and services. In winter, she visits local craft fairs with her unusual scatter cushions. She is a big fan of getting out and about and meeting new people!

In October this year, Sarah was announced as one of the finalists in The UK Small Business Awards in the Best Small Business category and went on to win a Highly Recommended award.

You can find out more about Sarahs work at www.theskullshed.co.uk

❣️Sarah we thank you for bringing fun and creativity to our shoutouts, and for having one of the best logos we have seen!

22/12/2025

📢 We begin our final two days of Female Founder Festive Shout Outs with Liz Hutchings Style Coach.

Liz is a style coach based near Colchester, and for her style coaching isn’t really about fashion, it’s about how you feel. She works with women who’ve gone through changes in life and no longer feel like their wardrobe reflects who they are now. Her work is about reconnecting with confidence, comfort, and self-expression, so getting dressed feels simple, natural, and joyful again.

Liz's sessions are relaxed, friendly and tailor-made. Looking at body shape, colours and personality, and pull everything together in a way that feels authentic to you, no rigid rules, no pressure, and no judgement. When women start wearing clothes that truly feel right for them, something shifts: posture changes, confidence grows, and they start to feel visible again.

This Christmas, Liz is offering style gift vouchers, a thoughtful and meaningful gift for yourself or someone special. They’re not about shopping or trends, but about confidence, being seen, and feeling good in your own skin at this stage of life

Find out more at her website www.lizhutchingstylecoach.co.uk or drop her an email [email protected]

💝 Thanks to Liz for supporting Ambitious Women over the years and being a regular visitor to our meet ups and co working days!

18/12/2025

📢 Thursdays shout out goes to the wonderful Kate Edwards, founder of Kate Edwards HR Solutions.

Kate is an HR professional with 25+ years experience. Her focus is on tricky workplace issues and the associated conflict and resolution. Kate has a wealth of experience in dealing with those challenges that most people shy away from, and enjoys her role in restoring workplace harmony wherever possible! She is a qualified workplace mediator and a member of the IMI and CIPD.'

During the festive period stress seems to increase tenfold, especially for those running the ship at home as well as work!

If workplace tensions or difficult conversations are weighing on you this season, Kate is offering a free, confidential consultation to help you navigate conflict with clarity and support. This gentle, no-obligation session gives you space to talk through what’s happening and explore how mediation skills or conflict coaching could help.

Knowing you don’t need to manage a challenging situation on your own can sometimes be all the support you need. Contact [email protected] for your free session.

Or if you prefer reading information, Kate has developed a conflict health check guide which you can download here https://lnkd.in/er39wi4M

💖Kate has been a regular of our Co Working days this year, and I am personally very grateful for all of her support over this year 💖

**I have five more female founders lined up for 2025.. so this feature will now run all the way till next week! And with such amazing interest... do watch this space for a regular feature like this in 2026!!

18/12/2025

📢 Wednesdays Female Founder Festive Shoutout goes to Dr. Lovely Chaudhary (PT) who we met recently at one of our Co Working days.

Lovely is the co founder of Paathshala - Supporting Special Journeys which is based in Colchester.

The Mission: They are committed to giving young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) the personalised support, care, and education they deserve.

The Vision: Their goal is to create a world where every child with SEN is not just included, but truly understood and empowered, building pathways to independence and lifelong success.

They focus on a Relational Ecosystem approach, which is personalised and nurturing, working closely with families, schools, and Local Authorities (LAs) for joined-up support.

Paathshala's work is guided by the core values of Compassion, Personalisation, Collaboration, Integrity, and Empowerment.

Visit their website www.paathshalassj.com or drop them a message at [email protected] to find out about their tailored provision for young people with SEN.

This includes flexible packages, including short-term intervention, long-term ongoing support, and specific programmes to suit individual needs.

They also invite new partners (schools/LAs) to explore a low-commitment pilot program to demonstrate the measurable impact of their support on academic progress and wellbeing.

💕 Sending our thanks to Lovely for providing such an important service to the residents of Essex.

Ambitious Women in Essex

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12/02/2026

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